Carol singers expected at Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport will be filling passengers with festive cheer, when they embark on their journeys to the sound of carol singers.

Singers and musicians from local churches will be forming the Big Christmas Sing, which is in support of Christian Aid.

Pamela Gray, Christian Aid supporter, said the charity needed their help to fight for an end to global poverty.

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Belfast International Airport opens second phase of construction

Passengers travelling through Belfast International Airport will now be greeted by a new glass-fronted building at the terminal.

This is thanks to the completion of the second phase of the travel hub's £10 million redevelopment.

John Doran, chief executive at Belfast International Airport, said the scale of the investment meant that the hub would be able to cater for all of the region's air traffic for future decades.

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Extra flight launched between Heathrow and Belfast International Airport

A fourth daily flight has been launched from Belfast International Airport to Heathrow.

The additional flight, with Aer Lingus, is aimed at making travelling more flexible for passengers.

Enda Corneille, director of corporate affairs at Aer Lingus, said it was especially good news for business travellers.

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Belfast International Airport issues traffic warning

Passengers travelling to Belfast International Airport have been advised to leave extra time for their journey this summer.

Airport officials issued the warning for the four days ending on Monday August 17th 2009.

They advised passengers to check details of road closures and traffic issues before setting off on their journeys.

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Flights launched between Blackpool and Belfast City airports

Twice daily flights are to be launched in July between Blackpool Airport and Belfast City Airport.

The service by airline Manx2.com will operate Monday to Saturday and run a morning and afternoon flight.

It is hoped that the additional services will attract more commuters to use the service.

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Luton Airport delays drop-off fee

Luton Airport has delayed plans to enforce a drop-off charge for passengers.

But holidaymakers travelling from the airport may want to book online car parking to avoid the hassle if the charge does come into force.

The controversial charge was expected to be brought in this month.

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Belfast International Airport flight offer

More than 50,000 €1 seats from Belfast International Airport have been launched by Ryanair.

The budget airline announced the bargain seats as news that Aer Lingus would be further reducing its routes and removing its one based aircraft at the Belfast hub.

Stephen Mc Nama, spokesperson for Ryanair, said Aer Lingus' high fares had failed to attract passengers.

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Millionth passenger flies Belfast to East Midlands

Budget airline bmibaby has welcomed its millionth customer onto its service from Belfast International Airport and East Midlands Airport.

Jenny Harney and her daughter Grace from Armagh were awarded free return flights from Belfast International Airport to Prague after becoming the milestone customers.

Crawford Rix, managing director at bmibaby, said the company was "proud" to welcome its millionth passenger.

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Belfast International Airport gets £10m facelift

Belfast International Airport will be transformed under new plans to enhance the customer experience and improve facilities for passengers.

The £10 million construction works, which are scheduled for completion by next summer, include the relocation of the security search area, a new two-storey glazed facade at the front of the terminal, and a reconfiguration of the duty free area.

More shops and food outlets will be created by the work, which will also speed up passenger waiting time and add lifts and stairs in the front of the airport building.

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More UK airports offer flights to Dubrovnik

Flights to the medieval city of Dubrovnik are increasing with a range of new routes from UK airports.

Launching flights from Gatwick Airport on May 1st, easyJet became the latest budget airline to add new flights to the Croatian city.

This comes after Jet2.com flights from Belfast and Leeds Bradford to Dubrovnik went on sale over the weekend.

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Luton Airport introduces drop-off fee

Passengers flying out of Luton Airport may want to book car parking in advance to avoid the new dropping off fee.

Plans to charge £1 to people who want to drop off passengers at the terminal are due to come into force sometime after this week.

Motorists will have to pass through barriers before entering a refurbished drop-off area.

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Dropping off outside terminal banned at Belfast Airport

Passengers flying from George Best Belfast City Airport may want to book car parking in advance as they will be unable to be dropped off outside the terminal from tomorrow.

New legislation has just come into force that bans motorists from dropping holidaymakers off outside the terminal building.

The airport has created a new one-way system where passengers can be taken to a designated drop-off area which is within the short stay car park.

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bmibaby launches winter schedule

Budget airline bmibaby has launched its winter 2009-10 flying programme from Belfast International Airport, including an additional route to Prague.

Operating three days a week on Monday Friday and Sundays, bmibaby will begin flying to Prague from December 4th this year.

Crawford Rix, managing director at bmibaby, said that the introduction of the route from Belfast from Prague is expected to be a popular one.


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Belfast International now 'a gateway to Europe' for US flyers

Belfast International's reputation as a gateway to Europe for North American business travellers has been further enhanced by the launch of a new service from New York.

While the Northern Irish capital is already firmly established as a leading short city break choice among European travellers thanks largely to the wealth of cheap flights there, it is only now starting to emerge as a long-haul travel destination.

Now, with Continental Airlines having introduced a new direct service between Belfast and the Big Apple, airport bosses are confident that the city can establish itself as an air travel gateway to Europe.
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'Savvy travellers' choosing Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport is proving to be the wise choice for travellers flying in and out of Ireland.

The airport claims that passenger numbers have gone up in the wake of the increase in value of the euro, with "savvy" flyers looking to make savings.

It suggested that the current economic climate is also impacting positively on its popularity, with hotel breaks and flights proving cheaper due to VAT reductions.
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Aer Lingus reveals passenger numbers to Heathrow Airport

Aer Lingus carried 250,000 passengers on its flights from Belfast Airport to Heathrow Airport in the first year of the service.

The airline's flights to Heathrow Airport began on January 14th 2008 as it launched ten routes from its new base at Belfast Airport.

Flights are also available from the Northern Ireland hub to Barcelona, Paris, Milan, Munich, Rome, Amsterdam, Faro, Malaga and Lanzarote, with an Aer Lingus service to Tenerife set to begin in September this year.


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Aer Lingus celebrates birthday at Belfast International Airport

Aer Lingus has celebrated the first anniversary of its launch of operations from Belfast International Airport.

The company invested some £100 million in moving to the new base in August 2007 and began flight operations on December 10th.

Over the past 12 months, the airline has launched ten routes from Belfast and taken more than 750,000 bookings.

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Airline strike could hit Belfast International Airport

Passengers using Belfast International Airport this winter have been warned that Aer Lingus services could be disrupted if employees vote in favour of industrial action.

The airline's employees are reacting to the news that around 1,500 jobs will be lost and significant outsourcing measures will be implemented as Aer Lingus announced it is attempting to cut costs by £57 million.

Trade union Siptu has suggested that it will ballot its members for full-scale industrial action that would cause the cancellation of hundreds of flights from Belfast International Airport over the coming months.

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Airline reaches milestone at Belfast Airport

Aer Lingus, the flag carrying airline of Ireland, has reached a landmark total of flight bookings from Belfast International Airport, it has been reported.

The airline reached the milestone of its 500,000th booking a year after it began operations from Belfast, a development that marked its first investment in a base outside the Republic of Ireland.

Enda Corneille, corporate affairs director for Aer Lingus, said: "We're delighted to have reached the half a million mark and growth continues to be in line with our expectations.

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Belfast Airport helps disabled passengers

Belfast International Airport has implemented new measures to assist disabled passengers in accordance with EU legislation, it has been reported.

A number of new services for passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility have been introduced ahead of the legislation which states that airport operators are now responsible for providing all ground services for disabled flyers.

Belfast International Airport has struck a deal with business support organisation Interserve to help carry out the changes which will improve passenger facilities for millions of holidaymakers.




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Belfast boosts Aer Lingus passenger figures

Irish carrier Aer Lingus saw a 12 per cent increase in passenger traffic in June following the expansion of its aircraft fleet and establishment of its new base at Belfast International Airport, reports reveal.

New flights between the Belfast hub and a number of European destinations have fuelled a rise in the volume of passengers flying with Ireland's second-biggest airline.

Neil Glynn, a transport analyst at NCB Stockbrokers, told Bloomberg: "The group continues to perform in line with our expectations, and summer demand levels remain robust on the whole."
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Belfast connected to Jersey, Menorca

Travellers in Northern Ireland have been offered more holiday options from today with the announcement of new flights from Belfast International Airport.

Low-cost airline Jet2.com has confirmed that new services will launch next year from Belfast to the Channel Island of Jersey and the Balearic island of Menorca.

The carrier said that the new flights represent its "continued commitment" to its northern airports.
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Belfast Airport up for sale

Belfast City Airport has been put up for sale by its Spanish owners, according to reports.

Ferrovial Group, which bought the airport in 2003 for £35 million, has put Belfast City on the market and is likely to get more than £100 million following extensive development to the site, claims the BBC.

A new terminal was opened in 2001 which completed the transformation of the area from converted sheds and huts when it was first built in 1983 to a thriving and popular airport.
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Aer Lingus launches from Belfast

Belfast International Airport passengers will have access to more destinations across the UK and Europe from this week with the launch of new services from Aer Lingus.

The carrier will launch its first flights from the Northern Ireland hub today, with Heathrow, Barcelona, Geneva and Amsterdam among the destinations to be served.

Aer Lingus' decision to fly from Belfast was a controversial one, which brought the threat of a strike that was narrowly avoided last month.
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Four new routes from Belfast with easyJet

Belfast International Airport will play host to a total of 23 routes from easyJet by the end of this week after the airline launches four new services from the hub.

The carrier, which claims to be Northern Ireland's largest low-fares airline, will commence a service to Gdansk in Poland on October 30th, followed by flights to Prague and Venice on November 1st.

A new connection to Barcelona, which will open on November 3rd, will be the final addition to easyJet's services from Belfast International Airport.
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Belfast 'taking steps towards carbon neutrality'

The managers of Belfast Int. Airport have claimed that 'major steps' have been taken towards neutralising the hub's carbon footprint.

By cutting down the amount of power used by its air conditioning units the airport has reportedly moved closer to negating its carbon dioxide emissions.

Some £91,500 has been invested in an energy efficiency scheme that is already reducing electricity bills by £130,000 per year.
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MP backs Belfast rail link

A member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has given his backing to the prospect of a rail link connecting Belfast International Airport with the centre of the city.

William McCrea, DUP MP for South Antrim, said that an upgrade of the infrastructure around the airport would "undoubtedly help" promotion of the hub.

He recommended that the introduction of a rail link should form a "vital part" of any plans to develop Belfast International Airport.
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Thinking ahead to Belfast International rail link

Routes linking Belfast International airport up to the city proper could be improved if a mooted rail link goes ahead, the Northern Ireland assembly member for South Antrim has insisted.
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Aer Lingus could boost Belfast with HQ move

Should Belfast International Airport become the site for Aer Lingus' new headquarters, as many as 1,000 new jobs could be created as a result, an MP has stated.

According to Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, the move to Belfast International Airport would be highly beneficial for the local economy as well as for holidaymakers.

Aside from the 1,000 new positions being opened up in the Northern Irish capital, Aer Lingus would also create 15 new routes across Europe and a re-installation of the Belfast to Heathrow link-up would be established.
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Ryanair ups its routes

A total of three new routes will be added to its existing flight roster at Belfast International Airport by Irish-based budget airline Ryanair, it has emerged.

From October 30th this year, services will begin to be offered to East Midlands, Liverpool Airport and Glasgow Airport from Belfast International Airport.

Ryanair's head of communications, Peter Sherrard said: "Today's new routes include the first Ryanair flights between the UK and the Canary Islands and see the arrival of Europe's lowest fares at George Best Belfast City airport, the 136th airport in the Ryanair network."
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Derry Airport re-opens

Derry Airport has re-opened following its closure on Friday over safety management issues.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) originally closed the Northern Ireland airport because of concerns over issues including the bird management system and drainage problems.

British Airways had been forced to reschedule flights to nearby Belfast International Airport.
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Third anniversary celebrations for Wizz Air

Low budget airline Wizz Air is currently celebrating its third anniversary, after making its maiden flight from Katowice in Poland.

Since then the carrier has handled over six million passengers and established itself as one of central and eastern Europe's favourite low cost air travel alternatives.

Wizz Air carried over three million flyers last year, which represented a 50 per cent increase on traffic from the previous year.
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UFOs at Belfast International Airport?

Air traffic control staff at Belfast International Airport recently received calls from worried County Down residents over strange lights in the night sky.

One call even came from a perplexed coastguard, after many people saw the bizarre lights in the skies of Bangor.

And the sightings have led many people to speculate that it was a possible UFO sighting, after Belfast International Airport revealed it had no record of any aircraft in the air at the time.
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Work begins at Belfast International

After six years of trying to get planning permission, work is underway on a new business park next to Belfast International Airport.
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New car park charging at Belfast International

Belfast International Airport is to see a new charging structure for its short-term car parking, it has been announced.
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