Two airlines have sights on new transatlantic routes

THE Northern Ireland traveller will be the biggest beneficiary of the Aer Lingus decision to invest in a UK base at Belfast International Airport.

But the full extent of the decision to begin operations from Belfast will not be seen for some time - and it looks like including transatlantic services.

Direct links to the USA, to cities such as Chicago or Boston, are seen as the natural progression for Aer Lingus - and the possibility was also alluded to by none other than the enigmatic Michael O'Leary, boss of rivals Ryanair.

O'Leary, wading into the controversy over the withdrawal of the Shannon-Heathrow services by Aer Lingus in favour of Belfast, said: "It is inevitable that the Shannon transatlantic flights will also transfer to Belfast Aldergove in the not too distant future."

And he warned: "The Government and Aer Lingus's determination to invest in Belfast should not come at Shannon's expense."

Another transatlantic scheduled service is also in the pipeline for BIAL - a new service by specialist operator flyglobespan to Boston!

The airline already operates from Belfast International to Toronto and Sanford, Orlando, so this would be its third Belfast route launched inside 12 months.

It's understood the new service will operate from the start of the 2008 summer season with a twice weekly rotation. Flyglobespan also operates to New York and Boston from Knock, west of Ireland airport.

As well as a whole raft of additional services - including the Aer Lingus blue riband route to London Heathrow - Ulster travellers are certain to benefit from the extra choice by paying lower fares.

An air fare war is certain on a number of routes, especially to Barcelona and Malaga. Jet2 already operates to both cities from Belfast International and easyJet is already selling seats on its new services to the two destinations due to begin in November. Aer Lingus will also have to compete against easyJet on its routes to Amsterdam, Faro and Geneva.

There will also be keen competition on the Heathrow service where bmi operates eight rotations a day from George Best Belfast City Airport.

Bmi has not had any competition on the Heathrow link since British Airways pulled its Heathrow service from Belfast International in the wake of 9/11.

Aer Lingus will launch its three times daily service to Heathrow from January 14 but will increase to four flights a day from March.

Belfast International says that with Aer Lingus in Belfast and British Airways through Heathrow the airport will now be able to offer its passengers seamless ticketing to destinations worldwide. It will be a similar story through Amsterdam partnership with Dutch flag-carrier KLM at Schipol.

A big plus for the new Aer Lingus service is the fact that there will be a late evening departure from Heathrow - departing London around 9.30pm.

Tickets have already gone on sale for the eight new Aer Lingus routes from Belfast International with prices ranging from £27 to £50 one-way including taxes and charges at time of the launch.

Ryanair is, as expected, to launch its first three Belfast services from George Best Belfast City Airport. At time of going to Press Europe's biggest low cost airline was selling one way tickets to Liverpool, East Midlands and Glasgow, at £10, including taxes.

Meanwhile, leading travel agent and local ABTA spokesperson Doreen McKenzie welcomed the Aer Lingus announcement, but was sceptical of over capacity leading to some air routes being of short-lived duration.

"In my own company's case, we often book our clients to place like Barcelona and Malaga, sometimes to connect with cruise ships. But with three airlines operating all from the same airport to the same destination, which one do we choose?

"Obviously we do not want to have our clients left in the lurch if some services are withdrawn because there is overcapacity and the operator cannot compete."

Meanwhile, George Best Belfast City Airport is also getting a boost with the arrival of Ryanair, which has now a 29 per cent stake in Aer Lingus, starting three domestic services, East Midlands, Liverpool and Glasgow from October.