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24/04/2017
Belfast Centre Of Aviation Industry
Belfast is the centre of the European aviation industry this week as the city hosts the three-day Routes Europe forum.
Routes Europe brings together airlines, airports and tourism authorities to plan new flights and strengthen existing routes, meeting in a new location every year to highlight different markets to the aviation industry.
Northern Ireland's success story is reflected in the growing demand for air travel. George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport welcomed 7.8 million passengers between them last year, the highest combined figure on record.
Around 1,200 route development professionals from 114 airlines, 270 airports and 36 tourism authorities will attend Routes Europe at the Belfast Waterfront.
Most of Europe's major airlines have registered including the five largest by available seats: Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, Air France and British Airways. Airlines from outside Europe include American Airlines, ANA, Hong Kong Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, will be interviewed on stage about the airline's ambition to become the ‘future Amazon of air travel'.
Steven Small, brand director of Routes, said: "Northern Ireland is a business and tourism destination on the rise. The demand for travel is increasing so there are significant route development opportunities for Europe's airlines."
Graham Keddie, managing director of Belfast International Airport, also said: "Hosting Routes Europe in Belfast cements both the city's and Northern Ireland's position as a great place to visit and to do business in.
"Belfast International Airport welcome the opportunities that Routes Europe will give us to present our wares and the rich range of iconic attractions which the airport provides direct access to."
Brian Ambrose, chief executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, added: "With record investment in Belfast and the highest ever tourism numbers being reported, Routes Europe's arrival in the city presents us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase this growth and positively change the traditional perception of Northern Ireland.
"We want to build on the region's economic and tourism success story by strategically enhancing Belfast City Airport's UK and European route network. There is a real demand in the region for direct connections to key destinations across Europe and it is our aim to continue to meet that demand.
"Located just a few minutes' drive from the city centre, Belfast City Airport is enjoying an exciting period of development, with our forthcoming new route to Reykjavik with Icelandair opening up connections to North America.
"As co-hosts of Routes Europe 2017 we are delighted to welcome 1,200 international aviation colleagues to Belfast. We pride ourselves on the strength of support we provide to our airline partners and look forward to demonstrating the unique services we deliver for airlines to grow traffic on their routes."
(MH/LM)
Routes Europe brings together airlines, airports and tourism authorities to plan new flights and strengthen existing routes, meeting in a new location every year to highlight different markets to the aviation industry.
Northern Ireland's success story is reflected in the growing demand for air travel. George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport welcomed 7.8 million passengers between them last year, the highest combined figure on record.
Around 1,200 route development professionals from 114 airlines, 270 airports and 36 tourism authorities will attend Routes Europe at the Belfast Waterfront.
Most of Europe's major airlines have registered including the five largest by available seats: Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, Air France and British Airways. Airlines from outside Europe include American Airlines, ANA, Hong Kong Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, will be interviewed on stage about the airline's ambition to become the ‘future Amazon of air travel'.
Steven Small, brand director of Routes, said: "Northern Ireland is a business and tourism destination on the rise. The demand for travel is increasing so there are significant route development opportunities for Europe's airlines."
Graham Keddie, managing director of Belfast International Airport, also said: "Hosting Routes Europe in Belfast cements both the city's and Northern Ireland's position as a great place to visit and to do business in.
"Belfast International Airport welcome the opportunities that Routes Europe will give us to present our wares and the rich range of iconic attractions which the airport provides direct access to."
Brian Ambrose, chief executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, added: "With record investment in Belfast and the highest ever tourism numbers being reported, Routes Europe's arrival in the city presents us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase this growth and positively change the traditional perception of Northern Ireland.
"We want to build on the region's economic and tourism success story by strategically enhancing Belfast City Airport's UK and European route network. There is a real demand in the region for direct connections to key destinations across Europe and it is our aim to continue to meet that demand.
"Located just a few minutes' drive from the city centre, Belfast City Airport is enjoying an exciting period of development, with our forthcoming new route to Reykjavik with Icelandair opening up connections to North America.
"As co-hosts of Routes Europe 2017 we are delighted to welcome 1,200 international aviation colleagues to Belfast. We pride ourselves on the strength of support we provide to our airline partners and look forward to demonstrating the unique services we deliver for airlines to grow traffic on their routes."
(MH/LM)
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NI Working With Aviation Industry To Increase International Flights
Belfast is to host the Routes Europe forum next month, which aims to bring new flights and improved international connections to Northern Ireland. The Lord Mayor, Alderman Brian Kingston, has welcomed that the prestigious event will be held in the city and he will be hosting a reception for delegates in Belfast City Hall.
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Budget flights airline Go has revealed an increase in passenger numbers in December last year. Go said that passengers carried in December 2001 rose to 340,384, up from 216,413 in the same period in 2000. This represented an average 70.5 per cent load factor an increase of 1.6 per cent in the number of passenger seats taken.
Go reports rise in passengers in late 2001
Budget flights airline Go has revealed an increase in passenger numbers in December last year. Go said that passengers carried in December 2001 rose to 340,384, up from 216,413 in the same period in 2000. This represented an average 70.5 per cent load factor an increase of 1.6 per cent in the number of passenger seats taken.
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Holiday Routes Boost For City Airport
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Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed a delegation from the organisers of the 2014 Giro d'Italia to Parliament Buildings. The Grande Partenza or 'Big Start' of the Giro d'Italia, one of professional cycling's three Grand Tour events, will take place over three days from 10-12 May 2014 and involves routes in Belfast, Armagh and Dublin.
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EasyJet looks to expand services from Belfast
Low fares airline EasyJet has announced that it plans to build on its existing routes from Belfast to London after posting a healthy increase in profits. EasyJet’s preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2001 show pre-tax profits rose 82 per cent to £40.1 million and revenues were up 35 per cent to £356.9 million.
EasyJet looks to expand services from Belfast
Low fares airline EasyJet has announced that it plans to build on its existing routes from Belfast to London after posting a healthy increase in profits. EasyJet’s preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2001 show pre-tax profits rose 82 per cent to £40.1 million and revenues were up 35 per cent to £356.9 million.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
