Ryanair has arranged to fly the Leinster Rugby team to its European fixtures this season from Belfast instead of Dublin Airport, the airline said on Monday, amid an ongoing farrago over the annual passenger cap at the aviation hub.

Ryanair has said it has reached an agreement with Leinster Rugby to use Belfast International Airport for away match flights over a row linked to additional winter slots at Dublin Airport. The budget carrier has claimed the extra slots at Dublin Airport normally allocated for the winter flights by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA),

Leinster Rugby may have to travel to Bristol and La Rochelle via Belfast not Dublin, with Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary urging the Irish government to act

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has called on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to issue a letter to the IAA to authorise slots for regular winter extra flights,