Airport Chief flags up major investment

Belfast City Airport Chief Executive Brian Ambrose has revealed major plans to improve the airport if a favourable outcome of the current planning review is achieved. Whether the new plans go ahead hinge on the current Department of the Environment review regarding lifting the 'seats for sale' limit at the airport.

Belfast City Airport has already exceeded its allocated number of seats for sale - a total of three million, 1.5 million each way. The Airport's application to remove the cap has been challenged in the courts by rivals Belfast International Airport.

Outcome
The City Airport chief hopes a favourable outcome will put in motion a £3.5 million investment to extend facilities at the airport including more shops, an additional passenger lounge, extra parking and an increase in the size of the baggage system. Spanish owners, Ferrovial have already pumped £10 million into improving the facility and Mr Ambrose has high hopes for these investments. "There will be a major capital spend this year and we will also invest £4 million in a new radar system over the next year. If the business continues to grow we will look at extensions to the building," he said.

Figures
These comments come on the heels of strong figures for Belfast City last year. While the airport reported an overall loss of £382,000, the turnover for the year ending December 31 2004 increased to £16.7 million from £14.4 million in 2003. This year the airport chief forecasts the turnover will grow to £18 million. Passenger numbers rose by 100,000 to two million and are predicted to reach 2.2 million by the end of the year.

The Chief Executive said he was delighted with the airport's success. "The investment we have made over the last few years is now starting to pay dividends and the results are following through. "If we get a positive outcome and the seats for sale cap is lifted then all the good things I have been talking about will continue."