Belfast International Airport (BIA) is further expanding its transatlantic services with the addition of a new route to Canada, it was confirmed yesterday.
Zoom Airlines is to add Halifax, Nova Scotia to its scheduled destinations from May in addition to the Vancouver and Toronto routes it launched over the last two years.
There are also plans to increase the frequency of the Belfast to Vancouver service from summer only to all year round.
The Canadian carrier said the decision to launch a new service was in response to demand following the success of existing routes.
Debbie Marshall, UK Director of Zoom Airlines, said:
“I am delighted to be increasing our Belfast service, strengthening our presence in the transatlantic low-cost market place. We endeavour to offer more choice and flexibility on our transatlantic services and the Halifax route is testament to that. Our plan to expand the Vancouver route throughout winter is also very exciting and will appeal to independent skiers who will be able to experience the Rockies at prices similar to a typical European flight.”
The Belfast International Airport to Halifax service will depart weekly on a Saturday between May and October and the airline said it would announce the start date in the coming weeks. The flight, which originates in Belfast, will then continue on to Toronto, increasing the number of summer flights on this route to two a week.
The Halifax service is the latest in a series of transatlantic routes launched at BIA in the last two years, which include three to Canada operated by Zoom, AirTransat and Flyglobespan and two to the US with Continental’s New York service and Flyglobespan’s Orlando service.
According to John Doran, managing director, Belfast International Airport, the launch of these services underpin the importance of developing a long haul programme at the facility.
“Halifax is just the latest route to be added to our growing number of transatlantic destinations. We are extremely pleased that this route, along with the expansion of the Vancouver service, brings the number of direct transatlantic scheduled destinations to six from Belfast International Airport.”
Mr Doran also said new routes would encourage travellers to use BIA instead of Dublin Airport. In a bid to lure passengers, BIA has launched a four-week advertising campaign in border counties of the Irish Republic.
“This is to attract attention, we have been hiding our light under a bushel for a number of years and it is now time to go out and a talk a bit more about where we are, what we do and what we can offer,” added Mr Doran.
The airport, he said, recognised it did not have much to offer a few years ago.
In 2001 there were just 14 destinations available from Belfast International – 11 domestic UK routes together with New York via Shannon, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Immediately after the 9/11 bomb attacks, a series of services were cancelled including New York, London Heathrow and Brussels.
Now the airport offers 42 destinations – 27 international and 15 to domestic UK routes. Some of the routes, like those to Canada are unique from Ireland.
Growth in passenger numbers at BIA has been impressive in recent years, largely thanks to the boom in low-cost air travel.
In 2001 the airport handled just over three million passengers but by 2006, that had risen to just over five million. By the end of 2007 passeger levels are forecast to top 5.5 million.
The airport master plan predicts passenger number will increase to almost 10.5 million by 2030 – or over 12 million if things go even better. Currently increases are running on the higher projection.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3445&ArticleID=2116867
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March 19, 2007 at 4:38 pm