EasyJet increases Belfast services

EasyJet is to establish new routes from Northern Ireland in a move which will create 200 new jobs. The no-frills carrier is to serve Paris, Nice, Malaga and Alicante from Belfast International Airport this summer. The primarily leisure routes will be seen as a threat to charter carriers operating package holiday flights from the province. The airline is also increasing frequency between Belfast and Gatwick from three to four flights a day. The move will see easyJet serve 13 destinations from Northern Ireland this summer. The new flights are due to start in June and are expected to see 200 new jobs. The development follows an initiative by authorities in Northern Ireland to develop new air services from the province. EastJet chief executive Ray Webster said: “We are delighted that the government has shown such proactive support to the airline industry. The introduction of this initiative means that consumers in Northern Ireland now have more opportunities to travel throughout Europe and there will be great benefits to the local economy as increasing numbers of Europeans travel to Belfast as a destination.” Fares start at £33.71 return to Paris, £50.98 to Alicante and Malaga and £53.71 to Nice. Meanwhile, the airline is to add a second daily Gatwick-Prague frequency from 27 May due to high demand, even though flights do not start until 23 April. Report by Phil Davies