STRANDED members of Liverpool's Irish Guards Singers slept rough at Manchester airport last night. At least six of the former soldiers - all now more than 60 years old - stayed at the airport after their flight was unexpectedly cancelled.

By PETER WOODMAN Budget airline Ryanair announced substantial cutbacks in its number of flights from a leading holiday airport next winter. The Irish no-frills carrier said it would making a 14% reduction in the number of weekly flights for winter 2008/09 at Stansted.

By PAT FLYNN FEARS are growing for the future of Ryanair at Shannon Airport after EUR1.2 billion was wiped off the airline's shares. Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, for Co Clare, said the budget carrier is continuing to lose money in the Mid-West - and that could spell disaster for the region.

The Scottish airline has decided not to operate the service this year, despite carrying more than 30,000 passengers on the route between May and October last year. Knock Airport says "international factors" have made it more difficult to secure a replacement service. (c) 2008 Belfast Telegraph.

AIRPORT bosses are expecting a record-breaking year for the west of Ireland. Figures show December was the busiest ever at Ireland West Airport Knock, with 38,000 passengers passing through. Although overall traveller numbers fell last year it is hoped numbers will be boosted to 700,000 in 2008.