A LOW-cost airline has, as expected, confirmed that it will be operating to Vancouver next year from Belfast.
Zoom Airlines has announced that it will be operating the only direct service from Ireland to the popular west coast Canada tourist destination
next summer.
The Vancouver flight, which was revealed in the July issue of Northern Ireland Travel News, will commence at the start of June 2006, and depart
weekly on Saturdays at prices starting from £119 one-way plus tax.
Zoom is the only airline offering direct flights to Vancouver throughout summer 2006 from any airport in Ireland, and is currently the only scheduled
airline offering low-cost direct flights to a choice of Canadian destinations from Belfast International Airport.
Zoom will continue to operate weekly flights from Belfast to Toronto on Mondays at prices starting from £69 one-way plus tax. These have proved
extremely popular since they were first introduced in June this year. Debbie Marshall, UK Director of Zoom Airlines said: "Vancouver is a vibrant
city and has proved to be one of the most popular summer routes this year. "We are delighted to be adding this destination to our Belfast service
offering for next summer. We offer the lowest scheduled fares across the Atlantic for the whole of Northern Ireland and have been amazed at the level
of localised demand for our flights."
Zoom claims its flights are high standard at low-cost, and offer a full scheduled service onboard. Premium seats are also available on all Zoom
flights and can be booked for an additional £49 each way to East Coast destinations and £79 each way to West Coast, offering additional legroom,
superior in-flight meals and complimentary drinks for the duration of the flight.
Uel Hoey, Business Development Director, Belfast International Airport, said: "We are delighted that Zoom has expanded their programme for Summer
2006.
"The addition of the Vancouver service will open up the fantastic west coast of Canada to passengers from all over Ireland and will provide the many
Canadians with local connections living in the Vancouver area a direct and cost effective means of re-establishing contact with their roots in Ireland
and throughout the island."
The Vancouver flight departs weekly on a Saturday from June to October while the Toronto programme runs on Mondays from May to Ocvtober.
Zoom uses wide-bodied Boeing 767-300 aircraft with a seat pitch of 31 inches offering more legroom than a number of other transatlantic carriers.
Premium seats can be booked offering additional legroom and check-in, luggage and in-flight meal and drinks benefits
The programme of flights from Belfast for Summer 2006 has already gone on sale.