Airline announces new routes from Belfast

Seven new routes to holiday destinations in continental Europe are to operate from George Best Belfast City Airport.

Bmibaby will run services to Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro, Ibiza, Amsterdam and Geneva.

The expansion is coming at the expense of Cardiff airport, with bmibaby stopping operations out of the city this autumn.

The budget airline said it will run its engines on a different thrust setting to enable them to take off from the east Belfast facility.

Other operators have previously insisted they could not fly to Europe from the City Airport until a much delayed application to extend the runway was given the go-ahead.

The controversial planning application is due to go before a public inquiry.

Chief executive of the airport Brian Ambrose said: “This is the most significant announcement in Belfast City Airport’s recent history and is a welcome reward to all the staff who work tirelessly to make this airport world class.

“Direct European routes have long been an ambition of this airport and we believe strongly that our growing customer base throughout Northern Ireland will avail of the bmibaby services.”

The Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro and Ibiza routes will start flying in summer 2012, the fights to Geneva from winter of this year and the Amsterdam route will start this October.