RYANAIR is poised to launch around 30 new routes out of Dublin, Shannon and Cork into mainland Europe at fares starting at ?29, following Thursday's announcement by the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, about the break-up of Aer Rianta.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary yesterday guaranteed that, if Ryanair gets a good deal on pricing from the new companies at the three airports and low-cost facilities at Dublin Airport, he would launch 20 new routes out of Dublin servicing airports in France, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia. A further 10 to 12 new routes would be launched from Cork and Shannon.

O'Leary said this would bring an extra ve million passengers through the three airports ? two to three million in year one and the rest by year two. This would create an additional 5,000 jobs, based on the standard aviation premise that every one million passengers had a spin-off creation of 1,000 jobs, he said.

The launch of so many new routes would transform Irish air travel. With Ryanair estimating that 60-65% of traffic would be in-bound, it would also sharply improve the fortunes of the struggling Irish tourist industry.

"If we're flying to Rome or Venice for ?29, then Italians are going to come here too, " O'Leary said.

The planned routes are dependant on Ryanair getting "a good deal" at the new airports and at the second, independent terminal at Dublin ? which Brennan now seems certain to proceed with.

Ryanair will be looking for a 10-year deal on landing charges with the airports and specic low-cost facilities at the new Dublin terminal. If the airline gets the necessary guarantees, it will begin some of the new routes by next summer before the terminal is completed.

"That's why we're pushing so hard on the terminal, " O'Leary said.

He stressed that any new terminal must not be "gold plated", as this would have a knock-on impact on landing charges. O'Leary said Ryanair ? one of the companies with a proposal before government for a second terminal ? could deliver such a building in 18 months.

O'Leary's comments will be observed closely within government, which hopes the break-up of Aer Rianta will have the same impact as the ending of the Aer Lingus monopoly in the mid-1980s. However, there will be scepticism within Aer Rianta and the unions about the kind of deal on charges Ryanair will require.

Some limited disruption is expected at the three airports tomorrow afternoon as staff attend 2pm meetings organised by SIPTU to discuss Minister Brennan's plans. However, Aer Rianta has advised intending passengers to turn up for ights as normal.

Meanwhile, Brennan's coup in persuading the government to back his proposals has made him a genuine contender, alongside the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, to succeed Bertie Ahern as Fianna Fáil leader. Brennan is widely seen as the best performing minister in the government and there is a growing view that he could emerge as a strong compromise candidate in any future leadership contest.