Airport News
Belfast City Airport receives new bmibaby services
Tue, 22 Feb, 2011
Belfast City Airport is to receive new services provided by low cost carrier bmibaby.
The airline recently announced that it would be providing an extra flight from East Midlands Airport to the Northern Irish facility.
Operating each Tuesday, the additional service means that bmibaby will now fly three times a day to Belfast City Airport.
Commenting on the move, Julian Carr, the managing director of the carrier, claimed it is designed to offer customers increased flexibility.
"This additional service will mean that we will offer the most flights from East Midlands Airport to Belfast, and we remain committed to offering people of the region exceptionally low fares and a level of great service," he said.
Earlier in the month, Belfast City Airport opened its doors to pupils from Priory
Integrated College.
It showed students around its facilities in an effort to showcase the important role engineering plays in its running.
Belfast Airport to see easyJet staff growth
Sat, 12 Feb, 2011
Belfast Airport is set to welcome new staff after easyJet announced the launch of its 2011 recruitment drive.
The low-cost airline is seeking 50 workers to bolster its current force at the facility, who will help it to cope with continued passenger growth, Northern Ireland Travel News reports.
In addition, bilingual staff are also being sought by easyJet for positions at its European bases.
Carolyn McCall, chief executive for the company, expressed her delight at the expansion of its operations at Belfast Airport.
"As more customers choose to fly with easyJet we continue to put the customers' experience at the heart of everything we do," she said.
The carrier added that the dedication and passion of its staff has helped to "transform" low-cost travel in Europe.
Earlier in the month, Belfast Airport announced that a weekly flight to Rhodes was being launched by Olympic Holidays following growing demand from consumers.
Belfast City Airport marks millionth Manchester passenger
Fri, 17 Dec, 2010
Belfast City Airport has marked its millionth passenger on its Flybe Belfast to Manchester route.
In order to mark the occasion, Charlie Lawson - who formerly played Jim McDonald in Coronation Street - was on hand to greet the lucky flier, Elizabeth Taylor from Newtownabbey.
Andrea Hayes, general manager for market development at Flybe, expressed her excitement at the landmark achievement.
"Flybe remains committed to keeping Britain on the move during these challenging economic times and to continuing to provide quality customer service," she said.
Ms Taylor was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne by Lawson, who was in the area attending the Lord's Taverners Christmas lunch at the Europa Hotel.
Earlier in the week, Northern Ireland's tourism minister Arlene Foster welcomed the announcement of a new route from London's Stansted Airport to Belfast City Airport.
The company revealed that services are scheduled to replace the recently-vacated Ryanair route in March 2011.
Belfast Airport offers new Reykjavik route
Tue, 30 Nov, 2010
Belfast Airport has announced the launch of a host of new services for summer 2011 between the Northern Ireland capital and Reykjavik.
As of June next year, Iceland Express will provide weekly flights to the country's largest city, in addition to ferrying Icelandic tourists to Belfast.
International airport business development director Uel Hoey welcomed the new services, stating that investing in new direct access channels is a "priority" for Belfast Airport.
"The aim should always be to develop the market, not simply splinter or replicate services," he said. "We are not in the business of simply re-arranging the existing business."
Mr Hoey went on to state that the hub will continue to have its wide-ranging regional objectives recognised and granted support by Northern Ireland's government.
Last month, Belfast Airport had its newly-refurbished terminal opened by the Queen, who was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and also heard plans to invest in a host of additional facilities over the next few years.
Belfast Airport welcomes Iceland route
Thu, 25 Nov, 2010
Belfast Airport is to host a new route to Iceland, beginning in summer 2011.
The service, operated by Iceland Express, will carry passengers from the Northern Ireland hub to Reykjavik, with the first flights set to leave the airport during June, although details of flight frequency has yet to be released.
It is hoped that the new journey will offer a gateway into Ireland for many Icelandic tourists and provide a boost to both the local and the national economy.
Belfast International Airport business development director Uel Hoey said: "As a committed and integral supporter of Northern Ireland, our priority is to invest in the provision of new and vital direct access channels from key source markets."
It is the second new route to be opened at Belfast Airport recently, as earlier this month the hub welcomed the addition of a new service from Flybe, linking the regional to Bristol Airport.
Belfast City Airport receives new Flybe route
Wed, 03 Nov, 2010
Belfast City Airport has recently received a new route from regional carrier Flybe.
Last week, the company announced its 2010 Winter Programme, which aims to provide travellers with a choice of more than 3,000 flights each week.
Following Ryanair's departure from Belfast City Airport, Flybe has moved in to ensure that travellers flying from the facility to Bristol Airport, East Midlands Airport and Liverpool are "not left in the lurch".
"Flybe’s winter schedule also includes two brand new routes between Manchester and Aberdeen and Nantes - and new routes serving Edinburgh to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Southampton to Paris Orly Ouest," said the company.
The carrier also recently revealed its new codeshare agreement with Air France, which means that Flybe flights to and from the French capital will operate out of Charles de Gaulle Airport's Terminal 2E.
Last month, Belfast City Airport's new terminal was officially opened by the Queen.
New Belfast Airport terminal plaque unveiled by the queen
Mon, 25 Oct, 2010
The Queen has unveiled a new plaque in Belfast Airport's business lounge.
As part of the celebrations surrounding the end of a two-year project by the airport to renovate its terminal, Her Majesty was also informed of plans to invest a further £50 million in facilities over the next five years.
Managing director for Belfast Airport John Doran welcomed the royal visit as "an auspicious day" for the hub and said the completion of the work was a milestone for the airport.
"These works are a major vote of confidence by our shareholders and owners, the Abertis Corporation, and, in so doing, they have demonstrated their commitment to Northern Ireland," he said.
Mr Doran went on to state that the investment is a "hugely positive signal" to local businesses, especially given the current troubled economic climate.
Last month, Belfast Airport was voted best UK airport by customers in the Holiday Extras Customers' Awards 2010.
Manx2.com expands Northern Ireland presence
Tue, 14 Sep, 2010
Isle of Man carrier Manx2.com has announced its intentions to expand its operations in Northern Ireland to George Best Belfast City Airport.
Chairman of the company Noel Hayes claimed that changes in the aviation industry have left many growth opportunities for smaller companies, which he intends to fully exploit.
"One such dynamic is capitalising and growing our Northern Ireland operation to introduce Belfast City Airport as our key hub," he said.
His comments follow news from earlier in the month, in which Flybe announced an additional one hundred flights from Belfast City Airport to Bristol, the East Midlands and Liverpool.
The new hub will mark Manx2's first permanent centre of operations outside the Isle of Man, in addition to more than doubling the size of its presence within Northern Ireland.
Business development director for the airport Katy Best welcomed the move, claiming it is "particularly" important that Belfast's link with southern Ireland be re-established through Manx2.com's flights to Cork.
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Airport parking customers warned of Belfast roadworks
Wed, 03 Jun, 2009
Airport parking customers have been warned about roadworks affecting access to Belfast's aviation centre.
Bosses are advising customers to allow extra time for their journeys due to resurfacing operations which began on the A57 Templepatrick Road yesterday (June 1st)
A lane is closed and motorists should follow signs for a diversion, a statement said.
The facility is located 20 minutes drive from the centre of the Northern Irish capital – those with a satnav that can factor in roadworks could input the postcode BT29 4AB into their device to find out the best route.
Drivers have a range of options for leaving their vehicle at the airport, including long and short-stay areas.
People heading to the transportation centre could be preparing for a holiday to Newquay or Jersey, new routes to which were launched last month.
Jet2 is running the service, which operates twice a week.
Trips to the Cornish seaside town go on Wednesdays and Sundays, while the Channel Island jaunts take off on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Budget-conscious travellers may be tempted by the fares, as they start at £2.99.
Belfast International Airport gains new UK holiday route
Thu, 28 May, 2009
Belfast International Airport passengers have another option for a UK holiday this year.
Jet2 has launched new routes from the hub to Cornish town Newquay and the island of Jersey.
Flights to the former operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, while trips to the latter will take off on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Tickets cost from £2.99 one-way including taxes and are available from the firm's website.
Commenting on the move, business development director at the airport Uel Hoey said: "[It] opens up real access for the first time into the beautiful south-west corner of England - an exciting new home holiday destination from Belfast International for 2009 to suit the needs of a broad range of holiday seekers."
Boss of Jet2 Philip Meeson added it proved the company is "dedicated" to its customers in Northern Ireland.
People choosing to begin their holiday behind the wheel are advised the facility is located 18 miles to the north-west of Belfast.
There are a range of airport parking options available, including a number close to the terminal entrance.
Belfast Airport to gain flights to Tenerife
Wed, 13 May, 2009
Belfast Airport will gain new flights to Tenerife, it has been announced.
Aer Lingus has said it will begin the route in later in the year, with no firm details yet confirmed.
The airline is making a number of changes to its timetables at the Belfast and Dublin hubs this winter.
Services to Paris, Rome, Faro and Barcelona will be suspended for the season.
Corporate affairs director at the organisation Enda Corneille commented it is still committed to delivering services for passengers in Northern Ireland.
People who choose to take a holiday to the Spanish destination will be following in the footsteps of boxer Ricky Hatton, model Katie Green and Jade Goody's mum Jackiey Budden - who have all topped up their tans on the island recently.
Before getting on the plane, however, the trip to the terminal must be navigated – and airport parking can make it easy to check in quickly.
The hub is located a 20 minute drive away from Belfast city centre.
Passengers 'will be able to pass through Belfast International Airport quicker'
Thu, 07 May, 2009
Belfast International Airport passengers will apparently be able to pass through the facility quicker once renovations have been completed.
The hub is spending £10 million on a "facelift", which will include moving the central security search to the departures area to speed up the boarding and landing process.
A new facade will also be built to house around 20 shops, eateries and places to stop for a drink.
Works are scheduled to be completed by 2010.
Managing director of the airport John Doran has commented the re-jig will make it more "user-friendly".
"We will be creating modern, spacious and service-focused facilities designed to make the airport easy and convenient to use," he said.
The organisation has stressed disruptions for customers will be kept at a minimum by a "phased approach" to the works.
Those driving to the facility are advised it is found seven miles away from the M2 motorway.
A range of airport parking options – including long and short stay - are available.
BMIbaby expects to fly 15,000 people between Belfast and Prague
Thu, 02 Apr, 2009
Budget airline BMIbaby is expecting to transport more than 15,000 people this winter from Belfast to its new destination of Prague.
The carrier said this as it announced its flying schedule for 2009-10 and added the Czech Republic capital to its list of locations available for those departing from Belfast International Airport.
BMIbaby managing director Crawford Rix noted "strong" bookings have already been received for the forthcoming summer and the company believes this trend will continue.
"People want to secure a great deal and their ideal dates of travel," he remarked.
Managing director of the airport John Doran also commented, emphasising Prague as both a business and leisure city with much to offer all kinds of consumer.
It is often chosen by those looking for somewhere to go for a short break or a weekend away, due to its proximity to the UK and local delights.
Passengers planning to leave their vehicle while they jet off for a long weekend might want to check out the suitability of Belfast International Airport car park.
Debate surrounds airport runway expansion
Tue, 24 Feb, 2009
Proposals to extend the runway of the George Best Belfast City Airport are stirring controversy.
The Green party has called for members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) to vote for a public inquiry into the proposal, which would lengthen the runway by 590 metres.
Fiona McKinley of Belfast City Airport Watch told the Belfast Telegraph that it was "a golden opportunity to put this ill-judged planning application beyond doubt".
But First Minister Peter Robinson had raised objections to the term of the motion for an inquiry, which was also put up by Alliance MLA Stephen Farry.
The BBC reports that Mr Robinson said environment minister Sammy Wilson would be in an "impossible situation" caused by his duty to both the assembly's decision and the law regarding planning, if the motion were to succeed.
Katie Best, business development director for the airport, said there is a "very strong business case" for the extension, the BBC continued.
Move to Belfast International Airport 'a success' for airline
Fri, 12 Dec, 2008
Aer Lingus has hailed its move to Belfast International Airport as a resounding success.
According to its chief executive Dermot Mannion, over 750,000 bookings have been taken since the carrier moved to the Irish hub just over a year ago and he said he believes this will continue into the future.
"We've carried thousands of people who are attracted to our high service and low fares. The best is yet to come," he commented in a statement.
The executive also added that a number of new routes will be added to Aer Lingus' schedule in 2009, including flights to Tenerife, Rome, Faro, Malaga and Lanzarote.
On its website, Aer Lingus states that it prides itself on its punctuality and is committed to continually improving this aspect of its services.
Belfast International Airport - also known as Aldergrove after a nearby village - is locates 21 kilometres from Belfast and saw nearly 5.3 million passengers in 2007.
Wind and rain delay weekend flights
Mon, 03 Mar, 2008
Severe weather conditions affected various different flights over the weekend causing delays and cancellations, it has been reported.
Driving wind and rain meant a number of arrivals and departures from Newcastle Airport were affected including a service between Aberdeen and Amsterdam which was cancelled.
One flight between Manchester Airport and Belfast Airport had to do a complete turnaround after failing to land safely twice.
The FlyBe service from Manchester to Belfast returned to the northern England city after winds of over 60 miles per hour meant landing at the Irish airport was impossible.
Other flights to Belfast Airport were also delayed by the heavy rain and strong winds.
In related airport news, a number of protests have been stages at government offices in Leeds, campaigning against proposed expansions to Leeds Bradford Airport.
Penny Eastwood, one of the protestors, explained that Yorkshire is "most at risk from climate change" and the possible increase in aviation emissions expansion would create a higher risk of flooding in the area.
New Paris flights announced
Thu, 14 Feb, 2008
Aer Lingus has announced a new service from Belfast Airport to Charles de Gaulle in Paris.
The service will commence on March 30th and will operate everyday with one-way fares as low as £25, which includes taxes and charges.
Aer Lingus has redeployed one of its twice-daily flights from Belfast to Amsterdam to provide the new Paris schedule.
Airline chief executive Dermot Mannion said: "Our market research has shown strong demand for Paris, Charles de Gaulle while Northern Ireland is increasingly popular with French visitors.
"We are delighted to be able to capitalise on this demand by launching Aer Lingus's low-cost, superior service offering on this route."
Aer Lingus's new route will be alongside the existing daily easyJet service from Belfast Airport.
Last month, Aer Lingus began flying from Belfast Airport to Heathrow, a move that the airline described as delivering "much-needed competition".
On February 25th, routes will be launched to Budapest, Rome, Malaga and Faro.
Belfast bonanza for easyJet
Wed, 31 Oct, 2007
Budget airline easyJet is to open four new routes from Belfast Airport to the continent this week.
They will fly to the Polish city of Gdansk, the Czech Republic's capital Prague, Italy's city of bridges Venice and the Catalan city break hotspot Barcelona.
The new flights take the number of destinations easyJet flies to from Belfast Airport to 23 and the airline's UK general manager David Osborne said that figure was a sign of the airline's commitment to Northern Ireland's travellers.
He added: "We have ensured that the travelling public no longer have to endure lengthy connections through London airports and can now fly directly to the main airports of Europe's major cities."
Meanwhile, rival low-cost airline Jet2 has announced it is to station one of its flagship Boeing 757s at Belfast Airport in order to increase the number of seats available on its flights to Gran Canaria and Malaga.