Flybe is set to step into Ryanair's slots
BUDGET carrier Flybe is to introduce three new services to Britain following Ryanair's decision to pull out of George Best Belfast City Airport, the company has confirmed.
Flights to Bristol, Liverpool and East Midlands airports will begin at the end of next month, bringing to 17 the number of Flybe services out of the airport.
Ryanair withdrew in flamboyant fashion last week because of the delay to deal with an application to have the Belfast City runway extended.
Flybe said the extra flights would mean locating two additional aircraft at the airport with the potential creation of 250 indirect jobs adding to the 215 already directly employed by the airline in Belfast.
"Flybe recognises that for a country such as Northern Ireland which depends so much on air links for its economic, social and tourism well-being that reliability and dependability are key factors towards growth and development," said chief commercial officer Mike Rutter.
"We are further underlining our long-term investment and commitment to George Best Belfast City Airport and Northern Ireland."
Enterprise minister Arlene Foster, who also has responsibility for tourism, said Flybe had acted quickly to fill the routes following Ryanair's announcement.
"The development of direct, convenient and competitive access services is critical to achieving tourism growth and strategic targets.
"Great Britain is a key source market for Northern Ireland tourism and Tourism Ireland has an exceptionally strong promotional programme under way this year, to restore tourism growth from this all-important market.
"Tourism Ireland will be working with Flybe in Great Britain to maximise the promotion of these new routes."
The announcement means that the airport has regained around half the business affected by the Ryanair withdrawal and it is understood that talks are under way regarding outstanding flights to destinations such as Stansted.
Following chief executive Brian Ambrose's assertion last week that the vacated slots would be filled, Belfast City's director of business development Katy Best welcomed the progress.
"We knew there was significant demand for the routes vacated and we're pleased to finalise an agreement with Flybe on three routes. Flybe is a long term partner and recognises our significant and continuing investment at the airport to provide world class facilities for passengers."
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Weather for Belfast
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light rain
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