THE non-stop transatlantic air link between Ireland and the West Coast of Canada took off recently from Belfast International Airport.

Zoom Airlines' inaugural flight from Belfast to Vancouver departed at 12.05, on Saturday, June 10, launching a low-cost full scheduled service to the Canadian West Coast that the airline claims will revolutionise transatlantic travel for the whole of Ireland.

The new Belfast to Vancouver service departs weekly on a Saturday, offering the lowest scheduled airfares across the Atlantic with prices starting from £129 one-way plus tax.

Zoom is the only scheduled airline offering low-cost direct flights from Belfast International Airport all-year-round and the only airline to be offering a choice of Canadian destinations throughout the summer months.

Zoom launched its Belfast to Toronto route last summer and with the outstanding success of this service, expanded into the winter months, providing year-round flights to the popular city of Toronto.

Launching the service, Debbie Marshall, UK Director of Zoom Airlines, said: "Vancouver is a vibrant city and has been a very popular destination serviced by Zoom since we started operating flights from the UK to Canada back in 2004.

"I am delighted to be expanding our service offering from Belfast International, with our low-cost high quality Canada flights proving to be a huge success with the Irish travelling public."

Uel Hoey, Business Development Director at Belfast International Airport, said: "We are delighted that Zoom has launched this new non-stop service from Belfast to the beautiful city of Vancouver - the only direct flight between Ireland and the West Coast of Canada.

"We are confident that the combination of two way leisure and 'friends and relatives' traffic will make the service a real success and look forward to working closely with Zoom to further develop their programme from Belfast."

Premium seats are available on all Zoom flights and can be booked from an additional £99 each way on the Vancouver service, offering additional legroom, superior in-flight meals and complimentary drinks for the duration of your flight.

Zoom fares are one-way enabling passengers to fly to one destination and return from another. The airline uses wide-bodied Boeing 767-300 aircraft with a seat pitch of 31 inches offering more legroom than a number of other transatlantic carriers.

There is a 20kg baggage allowance on all flights with no additional charge for ski or sporting equipment.