AIRLINE FlyBE's new Liverpool and Norwich flights took off from Belfast City Airport on Valentine's Day.
The Norwich route is being supported by Invest Northern Ireland's Air Route Development fund which
aims to improve air access to Northern Ireland for the benefit of developing business linkages and inbound
tourism.
Commenting on the new route, Bill McGinnis, Invest Northern Ireland Board Member and Chairman of the
Board of Air Route Development (NI) Ltd, said: "Local businesses wishing to develop links with the east of
England will now be able to fly directly to the heart of the region.
"Norwich has a large cluster of financial services and creative industries and is one of the top 10 retail
centres in the UK. Easy access to Norwich therefore offers business the opportunity to establish
alliances, and new trade links which could boost exports."
Referring to flyBE's second new route Andrea Hayes, flyBE.'s General Manager Market Development, added:
"The North West was a large gap in flyBE's network and the choice of Liverpool as a major base of operation
will meet the high customer demand in both regions. "As the second largest route from Northern Ireland
with over half a million passengers travelling to Liverpool annually, this new service is an appropriate
addition to our already comprehensive and growing UK network. The Liverpool route will bring an additional
200,000 seats to the market annually." She continued: "The introduction of Liverpool and
Norwich combined with the additional new service to Aberdeen which begins at the end of March, means that
flyBE. now provides Northern Ireland travellers with the largest domestic route network covering the length
and breadth of Great Britain."
Referring to claims that Belfast City Airport passenger limit is now likely to be breached, a
Spokesperson for BCA said it is in constant contact with the planners and any new route developments are
always discussed. He added that the planners are aware of what is going on and understand that routes can
open up and close down in the course of a year. Last summer Belfast City Airport applied for the
ceiling to be lifted on passenger numbers and although in 2004 it exceeded its limit by 6,000 the Department
of Environment did not take any action, saying it was not enough to be "considered expedient".
Both new air services will offer lead in one-way fares of £19 including taxes and charges. There will be four
daily flights to Liverpool with the first flight departing at 7.05am and initially one flight to
Norwich leaving at 12.40pm. Tickets for both routes are on sale at travel agents or at www.flybe.com.