Published Thursday, 21 June 2012
Belfast City Airport has been in negotiations to replace bmi baby's service. (© UTV)
The Irish airline is believed to be planning to switch its operations from Belfast International Airport to Belfast City.
A spokesman said: "We are engaged in a confidential process with both airports which is not complete yet."
Aer Lingus currently flies to Heathrow and seven European destinations - Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Malaga and Tenerife - from Belfast International Airport.
The change would make George Best Airport the city's only Heathrow connection.
According to reports, the Irish airline could make the move within weeks following the withdrawal of bmi baby's services from George Best City Airport, which carried 400,000 passengers last year.
IAG bought BMI from Lufthansa last year and said it had to act in the face of big losses. They promised to provide full refunds after flights stop this month.
BA has said it is committed to the route but there remains speculation that there may be long-term plans for both airlines to work together on the Belfast-Heathrow connection.
The airport had said that they were confident of attracting new airlines within the coming weeks but were not in the position to confirm specific airlines.