Belfast International Airport Blog

Flybe furious with BMIbaby

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:14:51 GMT

Belfast International (Aldergrove) could find itself struggling to compete against its rivals in 2011, after budget airline BMIbaby announced a plan to shift its entire operation to Belfast City Airport, much to the chagrin of head airline Flybe. BMIbaby said that City offered the airline a “more convenient location”.

The Aldergrove hub will lose 48 weekly flights as part of the exodus, in addition to the two lost in October, when Isle of Man airline Manx2 performed a similar disappearing act.

Flights from Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and East Midlands airports will be sent direct to City from January 1 2011.

Criticism of the move came from all directions, with Belfast City Airport Watch (BCAW), an anti-expansion pressure group, questioning whether a sudden hike in passenger numbers would breach a cap on aircraft flying from the airport.

However, as Edwin Poots, the Irish minister, removed the limit on flights from City earlier this month, BCAW can no longer raise a legal objection to a BMI-instigated rise in passenger numbers. Since then, the words ‘residents’ and ‘fury’ have featured in several newspaper articles pertaining to the decision.

Budget carrier Flybe was equally unimpressed. The airline, which is a resident of City, said that it would make a "calculated and robust" response to BMIbaby's relocation. Flybe began its retaliatory campaign by rubbishing claims by BMIbaby that the airline was moving to provide its passengers with more convenient services.

Mike Rutter, the boss at Flybe, told the Belfast Telegraph that “there has been a trend over the last few years for airport assets to be bought using debt finance,” adding that this "raises broader concerns for Northern Ireland’s aviation policy".

Whilst the loss of BMIbaby to City will certainly come as a blow to Aldergrove, bosses at the hub have been celebrating the arrival of a new airline, the largely unknown, Iceland Express. The North Atlantic carrier will begin running flights to Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, from June 14 2011.

Republican bomb 'there for a year'

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:17:50 GMT

Questions are being asked of security officials at Belfast International Airport, after an improvised bomb was found in a car at the Aldergrove hub. The device, which consisted of a pipe bomb lashed to cans of “flammable liquid,” may have been sitting undiscovered in the airport’s long-stay car park for “almost a year,” according to the BBC News website.

Officials found the explosive when an attempt was made to remove the vehicle from the car park. The long-stay facility was closed to traffic between 14.30 on Saturday, to 02.00 on Sunday morning, while army bomb experts removed the device. The airport remained operational throughout the crisis, but inbound passengers who had parked in the long-stay area were forced to stay at a nearby hotel.

The bomb’s timer, which had been set to detonate the device shortly after the car was abandoned, had failed a long time ago. Pipe bombs are, as their name suggests, ordinary pipes filled with explosive substances. The device has transcended centuries, and was very popular with combatants during the Belfast Troubles, despite being extremely volatile.

In the early 2000s, for example, at least two members of the paramilitary group, the Ulster Defence Association, were killed when the pipe bombs they were trying to use against a Catholic region of Belfast exploded in their hands.

Police believe that militants may be responsible for the bomb found at Belfast International, citing ‘dissident republicans’ as possible culprits. Sinn Fein member, Mitchel McLaughlin, said that the implications of having a bomb in a public place for almost a year were “almost too horrible to imagine.” Q Park, the owner of the parking space, was “confident” that the explosive’s extended stay was an exaggeration, however.

Extras gold for Belfast International

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:15:26 BST

Earlier this month, Belfast International was named ‘Best Airport’ at the annual Holiday Extras Customers’ Awards. The ceremony, which was held at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, recognises the “best in travel”, from charismatic individuals to airport hotels and valet parking.

The UK’s larger airports, such as Heathrow and Edinburgh, were not successful in the Best Airport category, suggesting that size is not necessarily indicative of popularity. Newcastle International claimed the silver award, whilst the “spacious and airy” Robin Hood Airport walked away with a bronze trophy.

Holiday Extras claims that 25,000 people voted in the Customers’ Awards, choosing 36 winners in 12 different categories. Voters picked their favourites from 112 airlines, 28 UK airports and countless other travel firms.

Irish airline Aer Lingus defeated Virgin Atlantic and US giant Continental Airlines to take home the coveted ‘Best Airline’ accolade.

easyJet was crowned the airline with the best value for money, whilst Virgin managed to redeem itself in the ‘Best Airline Cabin Crew’ category, claiming gold.

Other awards included ‘Travel Personality of the Year,’ which was handed to TV presenter Julia Bradbury, the unusual ‘Best Airline for Travelling with Babies’ and ‘Best Hotel Restaurant.’

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Deborah Harris, Belfast International’s PR person, said that the airport was “delighted” with its Holiday Extras trophy and that “this award is in recognition of all the staff that work at the airport and give 110% every day to provide exceptional customer service to all our passengers".

Ryanair and UK flag-carrier British Airways were noticeably absent from the ceremony, as were Stansted Airport and regional hubs Birmingham and Manchester.

For a full list of winners, visit the awards page on the Holiday Extras official website.

Manx2 jumps ship, to Belfast City

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:26:14 BST

Manx2, an airline that hails from Ballasalla on the Isle of Man, is to abandon its base at Belfast International Airport and move immediately next door, to Belfast City, otherwise known as George Best Airport.

Whilst such a minor change of scenery might seem like an enormous waste of time and money, the Manx2 airline claims that the move could “more than double” its business in Northern Ireland, despite City being almost half the size of Belfast International.

Belfast International will lose a flight to Galway and another to the Isle of Man when Manx2 jumps ship at the end of October 2010. Belfast City, on the other hand, will gain those routes lost by its neighbour, as well as a brand new route to Cork.

English airline, Flybe, will also add new routes at Belfast City Airport, to three exotic locations in Europe: Bristol, East Midlands Airport, and Liverpool.

Manx2’s transfer will no doubt come as a relief to City, which was left facing an uncertain future at the end of August, after budget airline, Ryanair, announced plans to withdraw all services from the Irish hub at the end of October.

Ryanair had taken umbrage with plans to delay the expansion of a runway at Belfast City, potentially stifling the development of its business in Ireland. Michael O’Leary, the airline’s owner, said, “We’re going to go, we're taking the plane, you'll lose the passengers, you'll lose the jobs.”

Noel Hayes, chief of Manx2, believes that Belfast City will be more popular with domestic customers. The Irish hub, Noel explains, has faster check-in facilities, and better access to the city centre.

However, Belfast International is still well positioned to compete with its local rival, with more than 20 airlines providing flights to Europe and beyond, including the Irish flag-carrier, Aer Lingus.

MP says drop-off toll may be discriminatory

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:29:54 BST

The recent introduction of drop-off levies at various airports throughout the UK has met with complaints from much of the travelling public.

This week, however, the introduction at Belfast International Airport of a £1 toll for those dropping off or picking up friends or relatives has provoked an accusation by Democratic Unionist Assembly Member, Jonathan Bell, that the charge may in fact be of dubious legality.

His case rests on the grounds of possible discrimination against the elderly, disabled and families with young children who are less able to stick to the 10-minute limit allowed in the new zone. Anyone staying longer than the ten minutes allowed by the levy runs the risk of being clamped and having to pay an £80 fee to have their vehicle released.

Mr Bell said that there could be great risks involved if people started dropping off outside the zone to avoid paying the fee. A public representative has said that he intends writing to the Equality Commission and the Children’s Commission.

The airport cites security issues following the Glasgow bombing three years ago as the main driver for the new provisions. It is expected that a staggering £2 million a year will be raised in revenue from the charge, equivalent to one third of the airport's profits last year.

It transpires, however, that for cash-strapped travellers there is a way round the fee. The Consumer Council has announced that there is a 10-minute grace period in the long-stay car park and has urged motorists to take advantage of this, criticising the airport authorities for not having brought this into the public domain earlier.

Manx2 unveils Galway route

Mon, 17 May 2010 14:56:05 BST

Isle of Man airline, Manx2, has unveiled a new route from Belfast International to the city of Galway in the Republic of Ireland. The airline claims that the connection will help boost commerce and tourism in the two cities, and open up the west of Ireland to the rest of the country.

Despite a week of relative calm in the aviation industry, parts of Ireland are still struggling to cope with the effects of the recent ash crisis. The country was besieged by Eyjafjoll’s lingering ash clouds earlier this month, forcing a nationwide flight ban on the 5th May, and causing significant disruption to the Republic’s airports on the following day.

Whilst the ash clouds have now moved into continental Europe, closing airports in Spain and Portugal, the extent of the damage caused by flight cancellations is still making itself known in the UK. The Irish Aviation Authority recently posted an €8m (£6.8m) loss for the weeks between the 15th April and the 10th May.

Manx2’s renewed commitment to Irish airports should go some way to repairing the country’s damaged aviation industry. The airline has added 32 flights to the city of Galway – 12 from Belfast, 6 from the Isle of Man, and 14 from Cork. Manx2 chief, Noel Hayes was optimistic about Ireland’s future –

‘We have enormous confidence in Ireland’s future prospects. The Galway route re-opens direct air links between Ireland's second and fifth largest cities, eliminating a five-hour road or rail journey.’ Belfast’s new route was launched last week by a ‘Manx cat,’ otherwise known as Mellissa Magee, a catsuit-clad model.

Tickets for the route can be purchased online, priced at £39 each way.