Ryanair says it will create 200 jobs in an expansion of its operations at Dublin Airport. The jobs will be for pilots, cabin crew and sales staff.
The airline will start 12 new routes from Dublin, bringing to 63 the number of UK and European routes served from Dublin.
New destinations from Dublin include; Oslo in Norway, Madrid in Spain, Tampere in Finland, Vitoria in Spain, Billund in Denmark, Bologna in Italy, Grenoble in France and Friedrichshafen in Germany.
These new destinations start in December 2006 and will be served by Ryanair on a year round basis.
Chief Executive Michael O'Leary claimed Ryanair was now 'Ireland's national airline' and said the new routes would challenge Aer Lingus on routes such as Madrid, Bologna and Seville.
He described the Oslo airport as 'the Mullingar of Norway' and Friedrichshafen as 'the Tralee of Germany'.
Mr O'Leary said his airline carries five times more passengers a year than Aer Lingus, and offers twice the number of routes from Ireland to Europe.
