Airport thanks passengers from Causeway Coast & Glens for '˜keeping it local'

Official statistics published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), showed how sixty-four percent of passengers in the area favoured the International Airport compared to twenty percent for Belfast City, twelve percent for Dublin and five percent for City of Derry Airport.

The figures showed that across all eleven council areas in Northern Ireland, Belfast International topped the ‘league table’ of airports.

Belfast International Airport Business Development Director, Uel Hoey, said: “We offer a comprehensive range of destinations for passengers and, clearly, in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area, people prefer to travel via the International.

“The International is Northern Ireland’s main airport with 4.4 million passengers last year. So far this year, growth has been impressive with our existing carriers, easyJet, Jet2, Wizz and United enjoying a significant increase in numbers.

“We expect that to continue with the commencement at the end of March of the Ryanair four times daily service to Gatwick. The airline will base three aircraft with us and will reveal a range of additional routes later which will get underway in the autumn.

“The airport values the support it receives from passengers who have a choice of airport. The fact that they favour the International over all the others is gratifying and will encourage us to continue with our expansion and investment plans.

“We know we have gaps to fill on the destination map, most notably to Germany, the Middle East and Canada, and we will not ease up until we’ve addressed that challenge.

“Of course, growth in passenger numbers leads to the creation of jobs and since December, the airport and related businesses on site have been able to announce close to 300 new jobs at no cost to the taxpayer.

“That’s a win-win for the economy and the taxpayer at a time when manufacturing industry is taking a pounding. By keeping it local and using Belfast International, passengers who live in the Causeway Coast & Glens area are supporting jobs and investment and for that, we say a big ‘thank you.’”