New easyJet routes to create 200 Belfast jobs

Two hundred new jobs are to be created in Belfast with the launch of four new easyJet routes out of the city.

The low-fares airline, founded by the heirs of Greek shipping tycoon Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995, serves about 40 European business and leisure destinations.

EasyJet operates from two UK hubs (Luton and Liverpool), Amsterdam, and Geneva and flies 64 Boeing 737s, with more on order.

The company will commence flights from Belfast International Airport to Alicante, Malaga, Paris and Nice from June.

The airline said the new routes are a direct result of a Northern Ireland Authorities initiative to improve the provision of air services in the North.

The group also said it was increasing its three daily services between Belfast and London's Gatwick airport to four. The airline now flies to 13 destinations from Belfast.

Ray Webster, easyJet's CEO, said: "We are delighted that the (British) government has shown such proactive support to the airline industry.

"The introduction of this initiative means that consumers in Northern Ireland now have more opportunities to travel throughout Europe, and there will be great benefits to the local economy as increasing numbers of Europeans travel to Belfast as a destination."