BELFAST International Airport has reached a major milestone in its history by welcoming its five-millionth passenger in the last 12 months.

This figure is more than double the number of people who used the airport 10 years ago, when passenger levels stood at 2.3 million.

To celebrate this major landmark the airport's Managing Director John Doran presented Dr Colm Donnelly, - travelling to New York and on to Richmond, Virginia for business - with an upgrade to First Class courtesy of Continental Airlines, a yearly subscription to the Airport's Bank of Ireland Business Lounge and a complimentary bottle of champagne.

"This is yet another milestone in what has been a fantastic year of achievement for the airport. In the last year alone Belfast International's non-domestic scheduled route programme increased by 55 per cent," said John Doran.

"Continental Airlines service to New York which began last May far exceeded the initial forecast of 70,000, carrying almost 100,000 in its first year, and the scheduled Toronto services that were only supposed to operate during the summer months proved so popular they have become all year round services," he added.

"We look forward to building on these successes in 2007 and providing local travellers and visitors to Northern Ireland more choice when it comes to transatlantic destinations."

BIA now serves 41 scheduled destinations with 26 European and transatlantic services and 15 domestic services.