FLYBE, one of Europe's leading low-cost airlines, has announced the launch of a new service from Belfast City Airport to Manchester International Airport.This bold move effectively places FlyBE. head to head with British Airways on the last route offered by the once major flagship carrier out of Northern Ireland.

The new addition to the route network takes the total number of direct services operated by FlyBE. at Belfast City Airport to 13, and sees the airline "continuing to facilitate travel between Northern Ireland and the length and breadth of the rest of the UK."

Significant

Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer, FlyBE. commented: "Belfast City to Manchester is a significant route in terms of both business and leisure travel.

"It has been unchallenged and uncompetitively priced until now and it is a service which we intend to grow and firmly establish in our route network."

"Indeed the North West is a key region for FlyBE. Following the success of our Manchester to Southampton route, this announcement of new services from Manchester to Belfast City and Exeter along with our plan to add a further six routes out of Manchester over the next two years it is our intention to position this airport as another FlyBE. low cost centre."

The Belfast City to Manchester service, which is now available for booking, begins on January 9, 2006. Initially offering three daily flights, a fourth will be added in February. One-way fares, including taxes and charges, will start from £21.99.

Mike Rutter added: "This new route shows us responding to consumer demand and further expanding our already comprehensive route network, building on our domestic successes and facilitating regional travel.

"We are committed to offering a first rate, convenient regional airline service, and by aggressively increasing our operations in Belfast City and the North West we are successfully marrying regional travel with great value and choice."

Exciting

Manchester is one of Britain's largest and most exciting cities. In the past decade, the city has gone through a period of dramatic change transforming it into a dynamic, lively and culturally divers metropolis. With the Peak District just a short distance away it is also an excellent leisure destination.

FlyBE. has been voted the most popular UK domestic and France-bound airline in the Holiday Which? airline survey (March 2005), and last month was the winner of the Best Low Fares Airline Award at the Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards gala.

FlyBE. now offers 13 direct services from Belfast City - London Gatwick, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Norwich, Liverpool, Southampton, Exeter and Manchester.

TRAVELLERS will be the winners at least in the short term when flyBE begins its Manchester service in competition to British Airways in January.

There will be more seats, and almost certainly lower fares, resulting from the competition between the two airlines who will both be operating from Belfast City Airport.

FlyBE says it is out to take a substantial share of rthe market from 'sitting tenant' BA and will offer competitive fare levels.

However, there are fears that British Airways might react by withdrawing its sole remaining direct service from Northern Ireland.

The airline reacted by issuing the following statement: "We welcome competition and will continue to offer value for money fares and a full service both on the ground and on board."

British Airways currently offers six flights per day Monday to Friday, five flights on Saturdays and four on Sundays from Belfast City Airport and Manchester.

Travellers from Northern Ireland can also connect to more than 25 onward destinations with British Airways from Manchester Airport including New York.