SkyAlps to connect Groningen with Knock and Kerry in 2027

Two airports in western Ireland will gain direct summer charter flights from Groningen in the Netherlands in 2027, with SkyAlps operating services to Ireland West Airport Knock and Kerry Airport for Dutch holiday company BBI Travel.

Announced on 21 October 2026, the programme brings back the Knock route after a year’s absence and introduces Kerry as a second gateway. Knock flights are scheduled on Mondays from 26 April to 6 September; Kerry will follow on Thursdays from 29 April to 9 September.

Knock flights return to Groningen after a year away

BBI Travel previously ran a Groningen–Knock programme in summer 2025. The route was absent from the 2026 schedule because aircraft were unavailable, according to Groningen Airport Eelde.

For the 2027 season, flight BQ2370 is scheduled to depart Groningen at 11:35 on Mondays and reach Knock at 12:40 local time. The return, BQ2371, leaves Ireland at 13:20 and arrives in the Netherlands at 16:15. SkyAlps will operate the aircraft, while BBI Travel is selling the trips.

Knock is a useful arrival point for touring Ireland’s north-west. It serves County Mayo and the surrounding region, putting visitors within reach of destinations that would otherwise involve a longer drive from Dublin. Its return to the Dutch holiday programme therefore matters to the airport as well as to the tour operator.

Kerry opens a new route to Ireland’s south-west

Kerry is the new destination. The Thursday service is due to leave Groningen at 11:35 and arrive at Kerry at 12:50 local time. The return is scheduled for 13:30, reaching Groningen at 16:40. BBI Travel has assigned flight numbers BQ2372 and BQ2373.

The choice of Kerry complements Knock rather than duplicating it. Kerry Airport provides a gateway to Killarney, the Ring of Kerry and the south-western coast; Knock serves a different stretch of the Atlantic seaboard further north.

BBI Travel director Henk van der Kooi outlined an itinerary in which visitors could fly into Knock, drive along the Wild Atlantic Way and return from Kerry. It is an attractive proposition for a touring holiday because passengers would not have to return to their original arrival airport. Whether a particular package offers those different arrival and departure points will depend on its booking conditions.

Summer charters offer regional links rather than daily services

The routes are seasonal, with one departure a week to each Irish airport. They are being offered as part of BBI Travel’s holiday programme, rather than as daily scheduled flights for year-round business or family travel.

That makes the timetable especially relevant when choosing the length and direction of a trip. A Monday arrival at Knock and a Thursday departure from Kerry would leave time for a drive across the west, but travellers would need to check the precise dates and package arrangements before building an itinerary around the two airports.

Groningen Airport Eelde sees the programme as an opportunity to improve its leisure connections, while Kerry gains another route for visitors from mainland Europe. The published dates and flight times can be checked through BBI Travel’s flight listings.