Airport action against expansion

The City Airport is hoping to expand

Belfast International Airport has launched legal action to stop the expansion of Belfast City Airport.

It has applied for leave to seek a judicial review of a planning application by the City Airport for the removal of a cap on passenger numbers.

The City is limited to offering 1.5m seats a year. But the planning agreement is being reviewed and it hopes the numbers will be increased.

Mr Justice Girvan granted leave for the case to proceed at the High Court.

He said he had been persuaded there were issues which required to be ventilated.

The court case is the latest chapter in a long-running battle between the two airports.