Ryanair Deputy CEO Michael Cawley has announced that the low cost airline will commence its first route between Ireland and Eastern Europe with a daily flight to Riga, Latvia starting January 2006. This new route is now available for booking on www.ryanair.com with widely available fares starting at €9.99 (excluding taxes and charges).

"Ryanair began operating flights to and from Riga at the end of 2004 and now offers daily routes from Riga to six European cities. Riga's 800-year history has made it a hugely popular destination for tourists around Europe, and the leisure market from Ireland to Riga will be transformed because Ryanair's low fares will make it an affordable city break destination for the first time,” says Cawley. "The considerable Latvian population in Ireland will also benefit from our low fares allowing them to travel more often between the two countries courtesy of Europe's lowest fares and save a fortune in the process,” he added.