The planned air service between City of Derry Airport and Dublin has no operator yet, and the October start date first announced in May is no longer certain.

In May, Irish Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien told the Dáil that the service was expected to begin in October. But a spokesperson for City of Derry Airport said it is continuing to work closely with the Republic of Ireland's Department of Transport to progress the service, and the actual start date is now unclear.

The route will be operated under a public service obligation (PSO) scheme, where governments support flights that would not otherwise be commercially viable. A daily service between Derry and Dublin, funded by the Irish government, was withdrawn in 2011, and attempts to revive it in 2016 were unsuccessful.

In November last year, the Irish government announced an investment of €2m (£1.76m) to get flights from Dublin to Londonderry up and running, aiming for a start by the end of 2026. This was part of more than €50m (£44m) in funding for projects under the Shared Island initiative.

Sinn Féin Donegal TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said on BBC Radio Foyle that the target date of October has been delayed. He said the minister indicated that because City of Derry Airport operates outside the European Union, the PSO air service has to operate outside EU regulations. The minister is taking advice from the chief state solicitor's office and the office of the attorney general, and they are very close to issuing a request for tenders.

Mac Lochlainn said the process had been complicated by Brexit, and added that it should have been resolved by now.

The Republic of Ireland's Department of Transport said it anticipates being in a position to publish a request for tenders very shortly. The tender process will allow airlines to compete for the contract to operate the route. The department said it hopes to award the contract this year and that services can begin as soon as operationally feasible once an operator is appointed.