Aer Arann is introducing two routes today as part of an expansion plan that seeks to increase its turnover from €57 million to €300 million in five years, writes Laura Slattery in Monte Carlo.

Services from Galway to Manchester and Waterford to Luton start today, while a service from Dublin to Belfast will begin later this month, according to Mr Padraig Ó'Céidigh, managing director of Aer Arann.

Mr O'Céidigh was Ireland's representative at the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year awards in Monaco on Saturday night.

He also announced that the company, one of the world's fastest growing regional airlines, planned to strengthen its commitment to Cork by basing crew and staff at Cork airport. Aer Arann aimed to double the 1,000 seats a week currently available on its flights from Cork within two years, he said.

The company has also introduced a corporate livery for its fleet of eight planes.

Mr O'Céidigh, winner of the Irish Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award last year, lost out in the world competition in Monte Carlo, where the title was presented to the Indian representative, Mr Narayana Murthy.

Mr Murthy is chairman of a technology services and consulting firm, Infosys Technologies, which gives 80 per cent of its profits to charity.

At the event, Mr O'Céidigh said Ireland had in the past exported its entrepreneurs overseas, but that young entrepreneurs were now staying at home and building their business in Ireland.

Mr O'Céidigh, a former accountant, teacher and solicitor, employs more than 300 people and oversaw a 500 per cent increase in revenues at Aer Arann during the last four years. He estimated that winning the Irish title last September was worth €1-€1.5 million in publicity costs.

"In the last 10 years or so, the Government has had a more pro-active approach, allowing fledgling companies to grow and develop," he said. But he added that Ireland still had "a long way to go in developing a true entrepreneurial culture".

But Ireland has the second highest entry level per head of population to the Ernst & Young awards, after Switzerland. The shortlist of 24 nominees for the 2003 Irish award is due out later this week. Mr Enda Kelly, partner-in-charge at Ernst & Young in Ireland, said US multinationals would eventually disappear off to the Far East. "If we don't foster and encourage entrepreneurship, where are all the jobs going to come from?"