Ryanair expands flights from Belfast

While Ryanair cuts its flights from Dublin today, it was expanding them 100 miles away across the border in Belfast.

The budget airline said it was introducing a new daily service from George Best Belfast City Airport to Bristol with fares starting at £10 (€11.14).

John Booty, sales and marketing manager at the airline, said: “Ryanair is delighted to announce this new daily service from Belfast City to Bristol. Now residents of Northern Ireland can avail themselves of the lowest fares guaranteed.

“Our daily service begins on March 30.”

The service will be in competition with rival easyJet’s twice daily service to Bristol from the Belfast International Airport.

Ryanair opened its Belfast base last September and currently operates services from there to Glasgow, East Midlands, Liverpool and London Stansted.

The airport is seeking permission for a runway extension and is up against stiff opposition from residents in the area .

Ryanair is a driving force behind the application and says it will expand services to include continental destinations if the runway is lengthened giving it a bigger payload.

Katy Best, business development director at the airport, welcomed the new route which she said “fulfils Ryanair’s promise of additional routes from its base here.

“This is great news for consumers in that we now offer 28 destinations direct from the heart of Belfast.”

She added: “Should Belfast City be granted its planning application to extend the runway, airlines such as Ryanair can deliver a greater selection of European routes which will create jobs and bring tourists to the city – thereby boosting the local economy.”