Emerald Airlines has announced two new Aer Lingus Regional routes to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands airports from Belfast following the collapse of Flybe.
The company, which took over the operation of Aer Lingus Regional services on a 10-year deal in January, said it would reestablish all UK routes vacated by Flybe at Belfast City Airport.
The Belfast-Nottingham route will commence as a daily service from 26 March, with flights increasing in frequency to twice-daily from mid-April. Daily flights between Belfast and Newcastle will start from 28 April.
Emerald Airlines already provides Aer Lingus Regional services from Belfast to Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, and Southampton. The company plans to launch to Jersey and Newquay in the summer.
“We are very pleased to be strengthening our schedule out of Belfast City Airport. As the demand for travel options from Belfast only increases, these two new routes will no doubt be warmly welcomed," said Ciarán Smith, head of commercial at Emerald Airlines.
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"Earlier this week we announced that we will be adding 15,000+ seats immediately across our existing network from Belfast City, and we will continue to grow these services in the months ahead.”
The airline intends to add 180,000 extra seats this summer and will operate over 400 weekly flights to and from Belfast.
Flybe ceased trading and cancelled all flights last weekend after going into administration. The company had resumed services in April following its take over by Thyme Ocpo, which is tied to US hedge fund Cyrus Capital.
It had previously entered administration in March 2020, resulting in the loss of 2,400 jobs. The company operated 530 flights across 23 routes.
Katy Best, commercial director at Belfast City Airport, said: “Following the collapse of Flybe, East Midlands and Newcastle were the airline’s only destinations not served by other carriers from Belfast City Airport.
"Having Emerald Airlines step-up and operate the Aer Lingus Regional services on both routes, in addition to its already extensive network from Belfast City, is therefore excellent news as it leaves no Flybe destination unserved.
"Maintaining a robust route network and ensuring connectivity to and from Northern Ireland remains our priority, and we look forward to continuing and developing our successful partnership with Emerald Airlines.”
Former employees of Flybe will interview for captain, co-pilot and cabin crew positions with Emerald Airlines in Belfast on Thursday and Friday (2-3 February).
Ryanair traffic up 69%
Ryanair carried 11.8m passengers in January, a 69% improvement from last January when traffic totalled 7m. Flights last month operated at an average capacity of 91%, up from 79% a year ago.
For the 12 months to the end of January, Ryanair had 165.3m passengers, more than double the number carried (+111%) in the 12 months ending last January, at a load factor of 93%, compared to 81% previously.
Ryanair operated 68,200 flights last month, and shares in the company have risen 1% since opening on Thursday. The airline this week reported a €211m profit for its third quarter after a bumper Christmas period, in addition to 14% increase in fares.
(Pic: Emerald Airlines)
