Inquiry sought on runway request

The airport hopes to fly to new European destinations

The head of Belfast International Airport has demanded a public inquiry into the call for a runway extension at the rival Belfast city airport.

John Doran described last week's application as "a retrograde step".

The George Best Belfast City Airport wants to increase the length of its runway by about a third.

Its chief executive, Brian Ambrose, said the growth of both airports "was great news for the Northern Ireland economy".

If the planning application is granted, it would extend the runway by 590 metres in the direction of Belfast Lough.

Mr Ambrose said the extension would allow planes to fly further to new destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean.

However, on Tuesday, Mr Doran said it was "entirely incompatible with the present and future economic interests of Northern Ireland".