THE Province's air travellers have never had it so good. Five years ago,Northern Ireland had just one direct scheduled flight to mainland Europe -
to Amsterdam - now it has 28!
Ten new direct international scheduled services have been announced in the past two months alone - all from Belfast International Airport - including
three to Poland, and two to North America. New destinations include Orlando, Milan, Toulouse and Warsaw.
When almost 40 scheduled services to the UK Mainland and the Republic from the Province's three airports, are added to a plethoria of charter flights,
Ulster travellers are now spoilt for choice.The only problem for the airlines and operators now is - generating enough traffic to sustain services to all the destinations, especially to some of
the less well-known cities.
Said one travel agent: 'Destinations like Barcelona, Amsterdam and Paris are popular enough to generate Orepeat' business as well as corporate travel,
but other places, regarded as more off-the-beaten-track, are likely to attract leisure visitors just the once. There would be a doubt about the
medium to long term future of some of these destinations, although some are obviously being launched with an eye on the influx of workers and their
families from eastern Europe.'
One thing seems certain, however, the chances of Belfast having its own locally-based budget airline has been torpedoed by the success of airlines
like easyJet, Jet2 and Flybe. Few routes are left to be served that have any prospect of being economically viable.
The proposed Belfast airline was due to be up and running in the summer, but both Belfast airports have heard nothing from its backers, supposed to be
based in Belfast and Dublin. Those behind the airline were apparently planning direct services to mainland Europe from both major cities, but the
rapid growth of existing airlines and routes have left any new airline with literally nowhere to go.
Meanwhile, Belfast International Airport's Masterplan 2005-2030 estimates passenger numbers at the Airport are due to soar to more than 12 million,
with 7,000 jobs being created at the Airport by 2030.
The key points in the plan envisage almost seven million passengers per annum passing through Belfast International by 2015, necssitating extending
the check-in hall, the construction of additional piers and provison of additional apron space for aircraft. Beyond 2015 demolition of the original
Terminal core is envisaged, plus construction of a new three storey central core, as well as improvements to local transport infrastructure, including
the possibility of prospective rail connections to the Airport.
'We believe the Master Plan can help deliver sustainable development over the next two decades without having an unacceptable impact on the
environment or the communities living hear the Airport,' said John Doran, BIAL Managing Director.
'There cannot be wanton growth at the expense of the environment and local communites. A balance has to be struck between economic imperatives and
environmental/community sensitivities.