A PREVIOUSLY axed service between Scotland and Ireland is set for a return, an airline has announced.

Loganair, the UK's largest regional airline, has said it will be restoring services between Glasgow and Donegal this summer.

The twice-weekly flights, operating on Saturdays and Sundays from July 1 to September 24, will provide the only direct air link between the UK and Donegal. The news also marks the rekindling of a long-standing relationship between Loganair and Donegal Airport, with the airline flying on the route as far back as the early 1990s.

The route will operate on the airline's new ATR42 aircraft, the first time the airline has flown the type on a route to Donegal.

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Luke Lovegrove, chief commercial officer at Loganair, said: "We are delighted to be able to restore this important connectivity between the UK and Ireland, helping families stay connected and facilitating leisure breaks too.

"We expect our summer flights to be extremely popular; therefore, we encourage customers to book as soon as possible to secure the best fares."

Cormac O'Suilleabhain, brand partnership manager at Tourism Ireland, said the route would be a boost for Scottish tourists heading to the Emerald Isle.

He said: “We recognise the vital importance of direct air connectivity and the key role that this air link to Donegal provides for Scottish holiday-makers.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors from Glasgow and all over Scotland to the island of Ireland and working with Loganair to promote the route and further expand their network to the island.”

Fares are expected to start at £74.99 for a one-way flight, which includes a 15kg luggage allowance and a mandatory carbon offset charge.