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Monday, 06 September 2010

New Flybe routes after Ryanair pull-out

Flybe is to introduce three new services to Britain following Ryanair's decision to pull out of George Best Belfast City Airport.

Flights to Bristol, Liverpool and East Midlands airports will begin at the end of next month.

It brings to 17 the number of Flybe services out of the airport.

The airline said it will also base two additional aircraft at the airport with the potential creation of over 200 support jobs.

A total of 215 people are currently directly employed by the airline in Belfast.

"We are delighted to be able to introduce these three crucial routes following last week's announcement by Ryanair to cease operations from Belfast City Airport and with it, services to Liverpool, Bristol and East Midlands", Mike Rutter, Flybe's Chief Commercial Officer, said.

"Flybe recognises that for a country such as Northern Ireland which depends so much on air links for its economic, social and tourism well-being that reliability and dependability are key factors towards growth and development."

Welcoming the announcement, Tourism Minister Arlene Foster said: "I congratulate the Airport operator for acting quickly to fill these routes, which were vacated by Ryanair.

"Tourism Ireland will be working with Flybe in Great Britain to maximise the promotion of these new routes."

Katy Best, Business Development Director at George Best Belfast City Airport, also welcomed the announcement.

"We knew there was significant demand for the routes vacated and we're pleased to finalise an agreement with Flybe on three routes," she said.

Last week Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary announced that the Irish budget airline would be pulling out from the Belfast City airport on 31 October, blaming a delay in a proposed runway expansion.

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4 Comments

At 23:08 on 06 September 2010, Vultch wrote:

Your kidding, have you ever flown with fly maybe, Ryanair are a well run business, you pay you fly. Sorry see ryanair go.

At 23:02 on 06 September 2010, Vultch wrote:

Your kidding, have you ever flown with fly maybe, Ryanair are a well run business, you pay you fly. Sorry see ryanair go.

At 21:28 on 06 September 2010, Allen Higginson wrote:

While I have very little respect for Michael O'Leary and his business practices,in this case he clearly showed our elected representitives and our political processes for what they are and that is a joke.If you don't bow and tug on your forelock to these people then you have no chance in getting anywhere with them.

At 19:23 on 06 September 2010, Stephen wrote:

Glad to hear this bit of good news. O'Leary needs to be put in his place, about time he didn't get his own way. He's threw his dummy out of the pram and isn't going to get it back. HaHa.