Ryanair will step up competition at Belfast this autumn when it begins operating a new Boeing 737-800 from Belfast City Airport.
On October 30, it will start a four-times daily service to London Stansted and a second daily service to Liverpool.
It claims its arrival will end a ‘high fare stanglehold’ imposed by
Bmi and easyJet.
It will also compete against Aer Lingus, which is due to launch 12 flights a week between Belfast International Airport and London Heathrow from January 14 in a codeshare with British Airways.
On December 10, Aer Lingus will also launch 14 flights a week to Amsterdam, five flights a week to Barcelona and two a week to Geneva.
Rome, Budapest, Malaga and Faro will be added to the Aer Lingus network on February 25.
Ryanair is guaranteeing the lowest fares from any Belfast airport to any London airport and claims it will pay double the difference if passengers find a lower fare with any other airline.
It will also fly daily from Belfast City to East Midlands Airport and daily to Glasgow.
CEO Michael O’Leary said: “Ulster has repeatedly said ‘No’ to high fares, well from 30 October next Ulster can say ‘hello’ to £10 fares with Ryanair.”
By Bev Fearis
