UK budget airline launches new Irish links

A British budget airline today launched a new service between Dublin and Belfast and Southampton's International Airport.

FlyBE British European has launched five services from Southampton International Airport.

A spokesman said ticket prices for daily services to Milan Bergamo, Geneva, Dublin, Belfast City and Jersey will start from £29 - €45.

He added that the new routes from Southampton will operate with a mixture of BAE 146 and Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

FlyBE was formerly Jersey European and British European airlines and rebranded in July to compete with the new generation of budget airlines.

Since its launch in the summer, the airline has seen its Internet bookings increase from 6% in January to more than 40% by November.

It carries more than three million passengers each year on its network which covers 1,200 weekly flights.