Latest News

Northern Ireland’s largest airline easyJet is to introduce extra flights from Belfast International Airport on routes including Edinburgh, London and Manchester. Expansion of its Edinburgh service means that Monday flights will increase from three to four; and those on Tuesday and Wednesday from two to three. There will be three flights to Manchester on Monday, Thursday and Friday – up from the current two daily flights.

And on easyJet’s four London destinations (Gatwick, Luton, Southend and Stansted) there will be extra flights on weekday mornings and evenings, particularly aimed at business travellers. All the changes will take effect from the start of easyJet’s winter schedule on October 28.

Earlier, on October 22, the airline will launch its first service from Belfast International Airport to Birmingham. Flights for all routes are now on sale with fares from £24.99, one way including taxes. Ali Gayward, easyJet Commercial Manager, said: “Our aim has always been to make travel easy and affordable. We remain committed to Northern Ireland and we are adding these extra flights in response to increasing customer demand for easyJet services. Edinburgh and Manchester are important centres for the business community and also for leisure travellers, including people going there for our popular city breaks. We operate up to 13 flights daily from Belfast to London, significantly more than any other airline, but demand is such that the extra morning and evening flights are essential.”

The airline's recently-launched fourth route to London – London Southend – has already proved extremely popular, with a direct train link taking passengers to Liverpool Street station and the City of London in under 55 minutes. Also, easyJet is now the only airline on the Belfast-Bristol route and has increased capacity through using larger aircraft."

Uel Hoey, Business Development Director at Belfast International Airport, said: "We very much appreciate easyJet’s long-established commitment to developing its service and providing stability for millions of Northern Ireland air travellers over the years. We are delighted that the airline is again demonstrating a willingness to explore new horizons in support of Northern Ireland’s economic growth.”

NYC & Company, the official marketing, tourism and partnership organisation for the City of New York, has announced that 16 hotels in The Signature Collection, a group of New York City's luxury hotels, will participate in The Signature Collection Third Night promotion this summer, and also the dates for this year's NYC Restaurant Week.

The programme gives visitors a Third Night free at participating hotels after they book and pay for two consecutive nights between June 25 and September 3, 2012. In addition, NYC & Company announced that for the first time, Third Night customers will receive both a special Key to Madison Avenue card, providing special offers at the luxury retail district on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, as well as a VIP shopping experience at Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship store in Midtown Manhattan. Detailed booking information for the Third Night summer program can be found at nycgo.com/thirdnight.

"This summer we encourage visitors and residents to experience some of our City’s most luxurious accommodations while enjoying extraordinary value," said George Fertitta, NYC & Company’s CEO.

A bonus of booking a stay at a hotel within The Signature Collection this summer is the Key to Madison Avenue card, which provides exclusive access to more than 70 special offers, including VIP services, gifts and private shopping excursions, to everything from boutiques and spas to restaurants and art galleries. Visitors who check in as a Third Night guest will receive one card per room at check-in.

Meanwhile, NYC & Company has announced that NYC Restaurant Week returns this summer. The dining event will mark the 20th anniversary of the programme with 20 days of dining deals from July 16 to August 10, 2012, Mondays through Fridays, with Saturdays excluded and Sundays optional for the restaurants to participate. Pricing has not changed since 2006, remaining at $24.07 for three-course prix-fixe lunches and $35 for three-course prix-fixe dinners (tips and taxes are not included). Diners can begin to make reservations at more than 300 participating restaurants starting July 9 at nycgo.com/restaurantweek.