Major route expansion by Jet2 brings jobs to Belfast International

The new exclusive routes are Naples, Maderia, Almeria, Antalya, Crete, and Paphos.

In addition the airline will fly to Malta and Rhodes this summer with a weekly flight to each destination.

With a new aircraft added to its Belfast fleet, the firm said it was planning a near 40% increase in capacity for summer 2017 over last year.

In total there will be over 400,000 seats available (over 110,000 more seats than Summer 17) for Summer 18, with more than 75,000 seats across the eight new destinations.

“We have made a huge investment in Belfast, creating new jobs and putting in an additional aircraft to allow holidaymakers to fly to more destinations than ever in Summer 18,” said Jet2 CEO Steve Heapy.

“Such sustained growth is only possible by looking after customers, which shows that our continued investment into offering real package holidays and family friendly flights is working.”

Graham Keddie, Belfast International Airport managing director said, “Coming on the back of hosting the Routes Europe event in Belfast we are thrilled that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are increasing their range of destinations at Belfast International Airport.

“This 39% increase in capacity not only brings the total number of routes served by Jet2.com to 22 but will also mean a jobs boost for the local economy with the addition of a fourth based aircraft. Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are clearly responding to customer demand for services to popular holiday destinations at affordable prices.”

Welcoming the news Ulster Unionist Ulster Unionist economy spokesman Alan Chambers called for a renewed focus on new routes from areas which could attract tourists into the province and dealing with air passenger duty (APD).

“We constantly say that tourism has massive potential as a growth industry for Northern Ireland, but government both at Westminster and at Stormont needs to play its part.

“Any increase in tourist numbers feeds directly into the local economy with the construction industry benefitting from the number of new hotels in the pipeline to satisfy increasing demand. This increase in new air routes is further evidence of the opportunities that investors are seeing in Northern Ireland.

“However, there is also an urgent need for stable and sustainable government to be established at Stormont to maintain and build on this positive momentum.”