Ryanair (FR, Dublin Int'l) CEO Michael O'Leary says the Irish budget carrier is planning to return to Belfast, Northern Ireland next year. The LCC pulled out of Belfast City in 2010 after a planning application lodged in 2008 to extend the airport's runway by around 600 metres was referred to public inquiry by the Stormont government.
"We will be expanding into Belfast and making it another large base in Ireland and the UK," he was quoted by the Belfast Telegraph as telling the Dublin Chamber of Commerce last week.
Prior to its withdrawal five years ago, Ryanair's Belfast base had offered flights to London Stansted,Bristol Int'l, East Midlands, Liverpool and Glasgow Prestwick.
This time round, however, reports indicate the carrier will use Belfast Int'l with plans to open up flights to London Gatwick using slots IAG was recently forced to give up as part of its take over of Aer Lingus(EI, Dublin Int'l). Should the route in fact launch, it would pit Ryanair and rival easyJet (U2, London Luton) against each other.
Ryanair to return to Belfast in 2016 - O'Leary - ch-aviation.com
No comments:
Post a Comment