Aer Lingus move brings jobs boost

Aer Lingus chose Belfast over Birmingham for its new UK hub

Aer Lingus is to create more than 100 new jobs with the launch of new flights from Belfast International Airport.

Three aircraft will be based at the Aldergrove hub, flying to eight new routes including Amsterdam, Rome, Budapest and London Heathrow.

Aer Lingus said its investment of £100m had the potential to bring up to 1m new passengers to the airport every year.

Company chief executive Dermot Mannion said NI was becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination.

"Belfast International Airport is the ideal location for the new Aer Lingus base, offering 24/7, all-weather operations and long runways capable of accommodating all current and future Aer Lingus development potential," he added.

Improving our economy is one of our key priorities and today's announcement represents a massive boost First Minister Ian Paisley

There will be 56 outbound flights every week.

Flights to Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva which will begin in December.

Three daily flights to London Heathrow will follow in January, with services to Budapest, Faro, Malaga and Rome starting in February.

Aer Lingus chose Belfast over Birmingham for its new UK hub.

Managing Director of Belfast International Airport John Doran said the eight routes announced represented a "significant beginning".

"There is the potential, not only for increased direct European access, but also for the introduction of transatlantic and intercontinental services in due course, which will add to the growing range of routes, for example to the US and Canada, that are currently offered at Belfast International."

Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley said Tuesday's announcement was great news for Northern Ireland.

"Improving our economy is one of our key priorities and today's announcement represents a massive boost," he said.

Junior minister Gerry Kelly said it was a tremendous boost for the local aviation industry.

He said: "Our economy will greatly benefit from these eight new routes and will provide further choice for travellers."

Aer Lingus is to spend £100m on its Belfast operations

Sue Ward from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board also welcomed the move.

"We are delighted with this news. just over three years ago we had only one international flight into Northern ireland and now we are hitting on the 30 figure," she said.

Aer Lingus flights between Shannon and Heathrow will stop.

Fianna Fail TD Tony Killeen said jobs and tourism would be affected there.

"It was the one flight you knew you had to book well in advance because you knew it would be full, but despite that the company are saying their yield on it was low," he said.

Most of the routes are already served by rival carriers such as Jet2 and Easyjet and a price war is anticipated.

"Competition for passengers will be fierce and travel industry experts say that prices will almost certainly tumble in the short term at least," said BBC NI business correspondent Yvette Shapiro.