The British Prime Minister has chosen Ryanair, the Republic's budget airline, to bring his family on holiday to France, Downing Street announced yesterday.
Media in the UK had previously said the family would fly with the British budget airline easyJet. But after weeks of free publicity for the Luton-based airline, Downing Street officials insisted it had always been Mr Blair's intention to use the Irish airline.
One explanation could be that, as suspected, the Blairs are heading for Gascony. Ryanair flies into south-west France through four airports - Biarritz, Nimes, Perpignan and Carcassonne - all convenient to that destination.
Ryanair was uncharacteristically coy yesterday. A Dublin spokesman said: "Ryanair never comments on the personal travel arrangements of its customers."
The spokesman did point out that if the Prime Minister and his family were to book yesterday they would be able to secure seats for £19 per person each way.
