A new airport will serve Derry and the north west of Ireland is officially opened at Eglinton.
The airport at Eglinton is a former naval air station which also accommodated commercial flights. The airport has now been brought up to modern standards at a cost of over £10 million. Funding for the project came from the European Union Regional Development Fund and Derry City Council.
There are two scheduled services to Glasgow and Manchester and holiday charter flights to the Channel Islands. There are plans to introduce flights to London catering for the needs of business travellers and to look at the potential of a service to Dublin.
Seamus Devine, manager at City of Derry Airport says there is a market for a twice daily return service to London.
The airport complex includes a new terminal building and air traffic control tower and the runways have been upgraded.
The opening ceremony was boycotted by unionists, apart from Deputy Mayor Jim Guy.
They're objecting to the new name, 'City of Derry Airport'.
Passengers will still see their luggage tagged with the international code for Londonderry 'LDY'.
Councillor Annie Courtney says that the airport was required to cater for international companies located in the region who need access for their private jets. The focus now is on the business traveller and she is hopeful that a London connection will be established shortly.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 1 June 1994. The reporter is Michael Fisher.
