Low cost airline bids to take over BA route

Low cost airline easyJet announced today it was bidding to take over the Heathrow to Belfast route being dropped by British Airways as part of its cut backs.

The airline formally applied to Heathrow for all the take-off and landing slots at the airport which become vacant when BA stops the service to Belfast International Airport later in the month.

The company said it was "ready and willing" to operate the six return flights a day being dropped by BA in tandem with its current five times a day service from Belfast International to London Luton.

British Airways’ departure from the route comes at the same time as British Midland switch from Belfast International to Belfast City Airport - leaving Northern Ireland’s premier airport with no service to Heathrow.

Ray Webster, easyJet chief executive said: "Passengers wishing to fly between Belfast and Heathrow should neither be inconvenienced nor pay higher fares just because British Airways is in trouble.

"If BA cannot make the route work, it should hand over the slots to an airline that can. We are that airline."

The company is hoping for a response to its application by the end of next week and is keen to provide a seamless switchover when BA stops flying on the route on October 27.

British Airways announced last week it was dropping the route following losses of £38m in the past four years.

In his application to the Heathrow Co-ordinator Mr Webster said: "We believe that we can succeed where British Airways has failed and would be able to fly this route at competitive prices with high passenger loads - while making a commercial return."

He said leaving Belfast International without a service to Heathrow "does not appear to be in the interests of British aviation or the economic profile of Northern Ireland."