British Midland moves to Belfast city airport

British Midland is switching its Northern Ireland operation to the revamped Belfast City Airport, it emerged today.

The airline is the first big carrier to move from its current base of the International Airport near Templepatrick, Co Antrim, since the city centre airport opened a new £21m terminal in June.

British Midland will transfer existing services to London Heathrow and East Midlands airports - and summer flights to Jersey - to the City with the start of its winter timetable, October 28.

The development is a coup for Belfast City Airport, whose director John Doran said: ‘‘The move will further strengthen Belfast City Airport’s position as a premier business gateway to Northern Ireland.

‘‘A leading business airline is coming to an airport which has been specially designed with business travellers in mind.’’

British Midland chief executive officer Austin Reid said the company had been considering for some time how to upgrade and improve services to and from Northern Ireland.

‘‘We believe that our move to Belfast City Airport will provide us with all of the opportunities we need to give travellers the highest levels of service,’’ he said

He claimed the location of the airport should attract more passengers to bmi, which already carries nearly 70% of all Heathrow-bound passengers from Northern Ireland.

British Airways, which also operates flights to Heathrow, moved briefly to the City Airport some years ago but returned to the International Airport.

Budget airlines Easyjet and Go also operate services to other London airports from the International Airport.

Belfast International Airport marketing manager Natalie Raper said: ‘‘It is always disappointing when any airline decides to move but that is the nature of the business we are in.’’

She remained confident that the airport would benefit from a significant growth in air travel anticipated for Northern Ireland in the next 10 years.