Belfast Airport sees surge in January passenger numbers
A surge of almost 20% in passenger numbers in January at Belfast International Airport has been described as ‘the ideal start to a most promising year’ by the airport’s Managing Director, Graham Keddie.
The impressive growth rate will be exceeded from the end of March with the arrival of Ryanair which will operate a four-times daily service to Gatwick. The airline expects to carry one million passengers on a total of six routes in its first full year of operation at its new Northern Ireland base.
A Belfast International Airport spokesperson said: “Ryanair’s replacement of Aer Lingus on the Gatwick route will mean almost 4,000 seats on business days to and from Belfast International Airport. This means that Gatwick is the main London airport for Northern Ireland, easily eclipsing the daily capacity offered on Heathrow.
"The range of available flights means we can offer unrivalled flexibility for business passengers with the last flight touching down at 11.15pm -two hours after the last Heathrow arrival.
"Even before the airline formally launches its new Northern Ireland base at the International, the airline is focusing on a growth strategy.
"Ryanair will shortly unveil the other Belfast International routes to be operated from the autumn. Already, it’s clear that Ryanair’s passenger growth forecasts will need to be revised upwards, and that is good for the airport and the wider Northern Ireland economy.
"Growth means jobs, and we are confident we will see more employment opportunities created as passenger numbers continue on an upward trajectory.”
Last year, Belfast International Airport recorded close to 4.4 million passengers, and 2016 will see it closing in on the five million mark.
Mr Keddie said: “Our January figures are a tribute to our existing airlines which have added hundreds of thousands of seats. easyJet, Jet 2, United, Wizz are all enjoying increases in passenger traffic.
“Even without Ryanair on the apron, the airport is set for a year of unprecedented growth.
“Some of our airlines are keen to expand the route network to mainland Europe and are only waiting on Tourism Ireland, Invest NI and the Government to come up with appropriate levels of marketing support.
“We’ve also got the Air Route Development Fund which has been years in the making and which may appear by the end of March. We will obviously welcome such a Fund and seek our fair share of it.
“For the fund to be effective, it must be earmarked for new routes that will deliver in-bound tourists from key markets such as Germany and Scandinavia.
“Belfast International, and the businesses on the site, are creating hundreds of new jobs, and pumping millions of Pounds in wages into the Northern Ireland economy. We’re an enterprise hub which could deliver thousands more jobs. All it needs is an understanding by Government Ministers that they’re sitting on a ‘goldmine’”.