Ireland is to get a new airline albeit one that is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Excel Brand.

Excel Airways, a leading charter operator in the UK announced in June the formation of the subsidiary which will have its headquarters in Dublin but will operate services out of Belfast International Airport.

The charter flights from BIAL will begin during the May-October 2007 Holiday season and will serve the popular holiday spots of Corfu, Crete and Rhodes.

The company, which is part of the Avian Group, will provide short, medium and long haul charter services for Irish tour operators and travel retailers and target routes from Ireland will include Florida, Mainland Spain, the Balearics, Canary Islands, Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt.

Excel Airways flies to over 50 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America from 12 UK airport and tt is anticipated that at least two new routes will be introduced in the mid haul market.

The company, voted best charter airline in 2005 by readers of the Daily Telegraph, hope to carry in excess of 65,000 passengers during their first year of service.

The new operation is headed up by Bill Smith, Managing Director and Carol Anne O'Neill, Commercial Director.

Both Mr Smith and Carol Anne O'Neill are well known in the travel trade for their involvement with leading tour operator Falcon Holidays in Ireland with Bill Simth being one of its founding members.

Commenting on the formation of the Irish Operation, Bill Smith said: "We believe that the arrival of Excel Airways is excellent news for tour operators and travel agents in Ireland. The Irish public are taking more holidays than ever before and with Ryanair and Aer Lingus no longer providing a charter service, we believe that the arrival of Excel Airways will fill an important gap in the market.

"We intend to offer real variety to tour operators and provide further opportunities to generate extra revenues for travel retailers" .

Magnus Thorsteinsson, Executive Chairman of Avion Group added: "I am delighted to announce our entry into Ireland, one of Europe's most successful economies representing a lucrative and attractive market for Excel Airways. It is very pleasing that our senior management is in place in Ireland and with their strong background in the travel industry, will be particularly welcomed by the tour operators and independent retailers in Ireland.

"Naturally, it is our intention to offer real variety and greater choice for the general public" .

The airline has a fleet of 26 jets in the UK comprising 16 x B737-800s, including five new aircraft due for direct delivery from Boeing in spring 2007, plus three B757-200s, two B767-200s, three B767-300s and two B747-300s.

Coming under the umbrella of the XL Leisure Group, XL.com is the online portal for direct consumer access to seats on all XL Airways flights to and from the UK which offers both advance booking and late availability flights while XL Holidays sells holidays directly to the public either online or via a dedicated brochure and call centre.