DIRECT BARBADOS SERVICE BACK AT END OF JUNE
DESPITE reassurance from airline BWIA last month that its Belfast-Barbados service would continue as normal during an aircraft refit period, it has been revealed that the flight will after all be suspended until June 26.
The aircraft that uses the Manchester-Belfast-Barbados route is due an overhaul - however BWIA's plan to use a "smaller" aircraft to cope with the traffic during May and June has not worked out.
Speaking last month on the withdrawal of the flights from travel booking systems during the refit period,
BWIA's Declan Murphy said: "The Airbus that operates on this route is undergoing a revamp so we are
replacing it with a different aircraft. "Forward bookings are looking healthy... I've every confidence in the route."
However, BWIA has now admitted that in actual fact the service has been suspended.
Declan Murphy said: "The new direct service from Belfast to Barbados has been temporally suspended
until the end of June. This was unavoidable due to heavy maintenance on the Airbus aircraft and it will
be out of service for seven weeks. "Meanwhile, all passengers booked to travel from Belfast during this period have been rebooked from Belfast via London to Barbados. BWIA will recommence
flights from Belfast on the June 26."
This is the latest in a series of problems to beset the Belfast-Barbados service since the launch of the
service.
Declan Murphy added: "BWIA have been in contact with all the major tour operators to inform them of the
disruption, and have given assurances that everything that can be done is being done over the seven weeks to make sure that passengers are rebooked and that the inconvenience is kept to a minimum."
Despite the uncertainty surrounding this route, he said that the future of the service is promising. "So
far the load factors from Belfast are very encouraging and we look forward to the return of the aircraft at
the end of June."
Belfast International Airport released a statement saying: "BWIA has planned the routine maintenance to
its long haul A340 fleet during the eight-week off-peak period of May and June.
"We have secured a leased aircraft to cover the London Heathrow operation on two days of the week but have been unable to finalise the agreement for the planned cover aircraft for MAN/BFS/PIK operations.
Consequently during the period April 29-June 19 eight BW990/991 and eight 992/993 services have been
withdrawn."All booking systems have been updated. There will be no direct BWIA services into or from MAN/BFS/PIK during the period and customers are being offered alternative connecting services over the continuing BWIA London Heathrow flights.
"All other BWIA transatlantic services are operating as per the planned schedule and from the week
commencing June 20 the full summer schedule will be in operation."

BY EMMA DEIGHAN