With summer in full swing, Thomas Cook Airlines has added the finishing touches to its flight programme from Belfast International Airport, which began on May 1, 2008.

For the first time, holidaymakers in the region will be able to jet off to Antalya in Turkey, Zante in Greece and Las Vegas in the USA.

Thomas Cook Airlines will have two Airbus A320 aircraft based at the airport, which each carry 180 passengers. Over the summer period, the airline is expecting to transport, in total, nearly 17,000 travellers to their holiday destinations.

Frank Pullman, Managing director of Thomas Cook Airlines, said: "We have analysed demand for flights in the region and because we have a fleet of 42 aircraft, we have been able to adapt our schedule to offer more choice than ever with exciting new destinations.

"Everyone at the airline has worked incredibly hard in preparation for the summer season, so we are looking forward to serving Ireland."

Flights are operated from Belfast International Airport to 24 destinations in total, including ever-popular holiday spots such as Alicante, Corfu and Ibiza, as well as up and coming cities such as Bourgas in Bulgaria.

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland is the second largest leisure travel group in the UK with around 19,000 employees.

The company operates a fleet of 42 aircraft, has a network of more than 800 high street stores (Thomas Cook and Going Places), leading websites,its own television channel Thomas Cook TV (Sky channel 645) and some of the world's favourite travel brands.

These brands include Airtours, Club 18-30, Bridge, Cresta, CruiseThomasCook, Direct Holidays, Flexibletrips, flythomascook.com, Latitude, Manos, Neilson, Panorama, Style Holidays, Sunset, Sunworld Holidays, Thomas Cook, Thomas Cook Signature, Thomas Cook Sport, Tradewinds, www.hotels4u.com and Elegant Resorts.