Ryanair Scraps Flights From Belfast Airport
4:13pm UK, Tuesday August 31, 2010
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has blamed government delays over approving a controversial runway extension for his decision to pull out of George Best Belfast City Airport.
The outspoken budget airline chief executive launched a blistering attack on the Stormont authorities as he announced Ryanair would stop using the airport from October 31. Passengers who have already booked can apply for a refund.
While the 50 Ryanair staff working on the Belfast routes will be offered redeployment opportunities, Mr O’Leary claimed the move would cost 1,000 other jobs that rely on the operator’s presence in the city.
His decision comes after a planning application lodged two years ago to extend the runway by around 600m (1,968ft), thus opening it up to further afield destinations, was referred to public inquiry by the Stormont government.
“If Belfast doesn’t want (it) and the authorities up here do not recognise that Ryanair wants to invest in Belfast, wants to invest in Northern Ireland tourism, but we are not going to beat our head against the wall for more than three years to do it, then to hell with you,” stated Mr O’Leary.
“I’m now saying we are going to go, we are taking the plane, you will lose the passengers, you will lose the jobs, but we will come back if somebody at some point in time up here makes a decision and delivers us a very small, very modest runway extension to grant us to do nothing other than fly safely from Belfast City to continental Europe.”
Michael O’Leary of Ryanair
The airline set up at the airport in late 2007, operating domestic flights with reduced passenger restrictions while preparing to launch a series of European routes confident that the extension would be granted.
But the proposal was met with fierce opposition by some local residents, who claimed noise levels would soar if planes with heavier payloads were granted to use the airport.
In March this year Stormont Environment minister Edwin Poots referred the matter to the Planning Appeals Commission to conduct a public inquiry but it has been hit by a number of delays and has not yet started.
The Ryanair plane based in Belfast will now be moved to Spain or Italy, and George Best Belfast City Airport Business Development director Katy Best stated she was disappointed at Ryanair’s decision.
“However, passenger figures had proved that there was significant demand for the routes operated by Ryanair and I am confident that we can attract other airlines to fill the void,” she said.
Minister Poots also expressed disappointment with the news. He said: “Northern Ireland unfortunately has failed to meet requirements for Ryanair.”
While the minister suggested the airline could have operated European flights from Belfast International Airport, Mr O’Leary ruled out any move to the facility at Aldergrove, declaring he was not interested.
Ryanair had one jet based at Belfast which will now be moved to Spain or Italy
Liz Fawcett, spokeswoman for Belfast City Airport Watch, a residents’ group opposed to the runway extension, welcomed the move but expressed concern another operator would take Ryanair’s place.
But retailers stated the pull out was bad news for the region. Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “Many visitors from the five Ryanair UK routes shopped in Belfast City Centre and other towns and cities throughout Northern Ireland.
“Struggling retailers will be disappointed that the loss of these routes will mean fewer customers from other parts of the UK.”
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Submited at Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 12:00 am on Business by blum
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