Low fares airlines Easyjet and GO have both denied reports that they have any immediate plans to operate flights out of Ireland.
A spokesman for Easyjet said the company had talked to Aer Rianta but only in the course of routine discussions with airline operators across Europe. He said that "no long term deal was in the offing".
Meanwhile Go said it was constantly talking to 50 or 60 airports around Europe and had no firm plans for any Irish operation at present.
An industry source said it was likely the story was a leak designed to stir up acrimony in the ongoing arguments between Aer Rianta and Ryanair.
Aer Rianta has indicated that special incentives would be available to the UK operators should they choose to provide services to new destinations.
If an operator chooses to open a new route from Cork or Shannon airports, the authority would let it operate free of landing charges for three years. In relation to Dublin Airport, the incentive would be a 75% rebate on landing charges for three years for a new route.
A new route means a new destination and not flights to a different airport in a destination already serviced, such as London.
A new arrival to the market would increase competition for Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost operator. Ryanair has clashed frequently with Aer Rianta over the fees it charges for use of its airports.
