Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, announced today that it will return to Belfast International Airport (BFS), Northern Ireland. According to the company, it will offer twelve routes from the airport as from March 2023. In total, it plans to operate around 115 flights a week to and from the terminal.
The Belfast-based company’s fleet will consist of two aircraft. The establishment of the new hub will require an investment of 200 million and will create «over 60 highly paid aviation jobs» directly, according to Ryanair. In addition, the opening would contribute to the creation of more than 650 indirect jobs.
«We are delighted to have reached a long-term agreement with Belfast International’s management, which will underpin future Ryanair growth at the Airport over the coming years», said Jason McGuinness, the company’s Director of Commercial.
In addition, the company said that in order to consolidate the recovery of aviation in the United Kingdom, «the government needs to immediately support airlines» by «scrapping the aviation tax (APD) entirely for all flights».
This UK tax applies to commercial passenger air transport operations departing from the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man using aircraft with an authorised take-off weight of more than 5.7 tonnes or aircraft with more than twenty passenger seats.
In October 2021, the British administration introduced a 50% reduction in the tax for flights between UK airports. The new amount will apply from April 2023, in a bid to boost regional connectivity. However, Ryanair says it is «simply insufficient».
Ryanair routes from and to Belfast (BFS)
- London-Stansted (STN): two daily services. Starts on March 28th.
- Manchester (MAN): two daily services. Starts on March 28th.
- Edinburgh (EDI): one daily service. Starts on March 28th.
- Faro (FAO): three weekly services. Starts on March 28th.
- Gdańsk (GDN): one weekly service. Starts on March 28th. Exclusive route.
- Krakow (KRK): two weekly services. Starts on March 28th.
- East Midlands (EMA): four weekly services. Starts on March 29th.
- Alicante (ALC): three weekly services. Starts on March 29th.
- Girona (GRO): three weekly services. Starts on March 29th.
- Bergamo-Orio al Serio (BGY): two weekly services. Starts on March 30th. Exclusive route.
- Málaga (AGP): two weekly services. Starts on March 30th.
- Paris-Beauvais (BVA): two weekly services. Starts on March 31th. Exclusive route.
See also: Ryanair resumes operations in Asturias
