Belfast International Airport – News

 

Some recent news about Belfast International:

 

Belfast International Airport seeks enterprise zone status

Belfast International Airport is planning to seek enterprise zone status, to become similar to Manchester’s Airport City. The Manchester one was confirmed as one of the government’s enterprise zones in March 2011, and is able to offer businesses incentives to locate there to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth. Belfast International airport has 100 acres of developable land, and it wants to get enterprise zone status from the government, so it can include logistics centres, warehouses, distribution, offices and leisure uses. But the airport does not have many long haul flights, and tourism in Northern Ireland is below the volume they would like. Belfast International only had around 4 million passengers in 2013, (compared to Belfast City airport, with about 2.5 million). It had about 5.2 million on 2007 and 2008, so has been in decline for some time.

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Belfast International Airport loses out to Dublin in the race for long-haul routes

February 11, 2014

Planned new long-haul routes from Northern Ireland’ Belfast International airport to Toronto and Abu Dhabi will not be introduced this year, raising fears that our main airport is being allowed to stagnate. The routes won’t operate till the end of 2014, at the earliest. There are fears that the airport has little or no future as an international hub without immediate government help, as it cannot compete with Dublin for lucrative international air routes. Dublin has almost 5 times as many passengers. It has been stagnating for years. By contrast, Dublin Airport is booming. BIA has only one long-haul route – a New York-Newark service – which was only saved three years ago after an 11th hour U-turn by Chancellor George Osborne allowing Northern Ireland to stop charging APD. Northern Ireland cannot compete with the Republic, which can offer airlines huge financial incentives. BIA had around 4,022,470 passengers in 2013, down – 6.7% on 2012.     Click here to view full story…

 


 

American company, ADC & HAS Airports Worldwide, has bought Belfast International airport from Abertis

July 23, 2013     Belfast International Airport is to be sold to the US-based firm, ADC & HAS Airports Worldwide, which has interests in airports in Costa Rica and Ecuador. Belfast International has been owned by the Spanish company Abertis since 2005. Abertis is also selling Stockholm Skavsta airport and other assets to ADC & HAS for a total of £244m. The deal with Abertis is pending approval of minority shareholders and US regulators. Belfast International is the second largest airport in Ireland and handles around 4.3m passengers a year, well down from its peak of around 5.5 million in 2007.     Click here to view full story…

 


 

More Northern Ireland residents using Dublin Airport

March 12, 2013    New figures from the Dublin Airport Authority show more than 500,000 Northern Ireland residents used Dublin Airport last year, a 15% increase on 2011. The number of Northern Ireland-based passengers using Dublin Airport has almost doubled since 2010 – the vast majority (70%) for holidays or leisure trips – and only 20% for business. The effect of Air Passenger Duty is not mentioned, as it is only £13 for short haul journeys, and has been removed from longer journeys from Northern Ireland. The Irish flight tax is only €3 per flight (it was higher till 2011). Dublin airport says the new road network has made travelling from Northern Ireland to Dublin faster and easier. In 2011 Dublin airport had around 18.7 million passengers, Belfast International had about 4.1 million and Belfast City airport around 2.4 million.    Click here to view full story…

 


 

Abertis considers sale of UK airports – Luton, Cardiff and Belfast International

February 25, 2013     Abertis, the Spanish owner of Luton, Cardiff and Belfast International airports, may sell them. According to The Sunday Times, Abertis has decided to sell the 3 airports as part of a review of its €1 billion transport division, and Citi and AZ Capital have been appointed to review the division. Luton airport has been surrounded by controversy over its development plans with the local council opposing Abertis’ plans for its development. The Welsh government is reported to be on the verge of buying Cardiff airport, which has had a large drop in traffic during the past few years. Albertis’ airport assets in Bolivia were nationalised by President Evo Morales last week, and it has lost money in Spain in recent years. Campaigners at Luton said the timing of the sale was unfortunate, with the airport’s current planning application – for which planning permission has not been secured. The sale threatens the investment on which the airport’s hugely expensive expansion plans are based.

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MPs call for total abolition of APD in Northern Ireland

Nov 30, 2012   Northern Ireland MPs say Air Passenger Duty of £13 on short-haul flights to and from Northern Ireland should be abolished. The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee said APD on flights was a major stumbling block to rebuilding the economy in the province.

Such flights make up 98% of all air travel to and from Northern Ireland. The committee wants the Northern Ireland Executive and the Treasury to look at ways of either reducing or abolishing APD altogether.   Committee chairman Laurence Robertson MP said: “For the people of Northern Ireland air travel is not a luxury, it is fundamental to family and economic life.

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2012/11/30/42432/mps+call+for+total+abolition+of+apd+in+northern+ireland.html

 


 

APD on long-haul flights to be abolished in Northern Ireland

Nov 07, 2012    The Northern Ireland assembly has agreed to abolish Air Passenger Duty on long-haul flights from the province. The tax on direct long-haul flights departing from Northern Ireland airports will be reduced to zero from January 2013.   The abolition of APD was welcomed by finance minister Sammy Wilson as a boost to the Northern Ireland economy.  “They are also vital for the local tourism industry and in attracting foreign direct investment to Northern Ireland, both key to growing and rebalancing our economy.

“Abolishing Air Passenger Duty on long-haul flights will help to protect and improve our international air access and ensure the competitiveness of our airports.” http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2012/11/07/42197/apd-on-long-haul-flights-to-be-abolished-in-northern.html

 

Aer Lingus to switch from Belfast International to Belfast City Airport

June 16, 2012   The Chief Executive of George Best Belfast City Airport has dismissed the remarks made by BALPA link , that Belfast should have only one airport, at a Commons Select Committee hearing as laughable. He said the airport is a profitable privately run company, and cannot be closed down against their wishes. BALPA had said that Belfast City airport was not needed, and was creating over capacity for Belfast. Meanwhile Aer Lingus is thought to be switching its operations from Belfast International Airport to Belfast City Airport, after the City airport lost BMI Baby. Aer Lingus flies to Heathrow and 7 European destinations, but it is thought it may expand routes to regional UK airports from the City and compete with Flybe. The move could happen soon, and the City Airport would have Belfast’s only Heathrow connection.    Click here to view full story…

 

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee told NI ‘does not need two airports 14 miles apart’ in Belfast

June 14, 2012    The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has been told it is not sensible for Belfast to have two airports that are just 14 miles apart. This was the evidence from BALPA, which said its members agreed Northern Ireland only needed one main airport. BALPA said the decision on whether it should be at George Best Belfast City Airport or Belfast International was a matter for politicians – and that there was currently over capacity in Northern Ireland and it was the “wrong sort of capacity”. MPs have already taken evidence from representatives of both airports, as well as from City of Derry Airport and will hear more evidence next week     Click here to view full story…

 

 

New York route from Belfast Internat is ‘loss making’ due to APD – as cheaper from Ireland

22nd June 2011    Continental Airlines said it may be forced to withdraw its Belfast International to New York route due to the level of air travel tax. In Belfast APD adds £60 on every flight to New York.  However on its flights from Dublin the tax is €3. So the Belfast route is making a loss. They are …”right next door to a different tax regime where we can offer lower prices.” “The route is estimated to be worth around £20m a year to the Northern Ireland economy.” (BBC)     Click here to view full story…

Bmibaby announces schedule for Belfast in 2010

4th September 2009    Bmibaby has revealed its 2010 summer schedule from Belfast International. Some of the flights are to Birmingham, East Midlands, Manchester and Cardiff until October 30th 2010. 45 flights a week will operate out of the 4 bases. Cardiff will have services 6 times a week, Birmingham 15 times and East Midlands and Manchester 12 flights each. (Flightline)      Click here to view full story…

 

 

Deal ensures cheaper flights for civil servants in Northern Ireland

 8th August 2009    Civil servants from Northern Ireland will enjoy cheaper flights on official business after a deal was struck with airlines today. Aer Lingus, BMI and Flybe won the contracts following an open tendering competition. The government air programme allows the civil service to take advantage of fare deals on the most frequently used routes. (Belfast Telegraph)    Click here to view full story…