Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional, commences services from Belfast City Airport

Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional, today commenced its services from Belfast City Airport, with its inaugural flight from Belfast City to Birmingham departing this morning, 24th March, at 06:50 AM.

 

The first phase of services started today to Birmingham, with Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and Manchester commencing on 27th March.  Services from Belfast City to Glasgow and Exeter will commence from early May, 2022.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Ciarán Smith, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines said:

“Today is a very exciting day for us at Emerald Airlines. With our growing team of Cabin and Flight Crew based in Belfast City Airport, combined with the customer demand to travel again, Belfast has always been an important market for us. 

 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, we want to be the airline of choice for customers travelling, be it for business or leisure, to and from Belfast City Airport – and today is the first of many routes we will be servicing to achieve just that.”

 

Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus, said: "Today marks another important day for Aer Lingus Regional services. The commencement of these services from Belfast City Airport will be welcome news for customers and for connectivity to and from Northern Ireland. Customers will be able to enjoy the value, convenience and warm welcome that Aer Lingus is proud to deliver.”

 

Passengers are now able to book flights from Belfast City Airport to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Glasgow, and Exeter. Passengers will be able to earn Avios points on all Aer Lingus Regional flights, providing continuity and benefits of the current services offered by both Aer Lingus and British Airways at Belfast City Airport. 

 

Ellie McGimpsey, Aviation Development Manager at George Best Belfast City Airport, which is just a five-minute drive from the city centre, said:  “Birmingham has always been an incredibly popular route from Belfast City so it seems fitting to launch our partnership with Emerald Airlines with flights to Birmingham. We’re certain Birmingham, along with Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds Bradford all starting later this week, will be successful services used by both business and leisure passengers. 

 

This is a long-term partnership, and we very much look forward to further developing the network and providing additional frequency in the coming months.”

 

Aer Lingus and British Airways' services to London City and London Heathrow from Belfast City Airport remain unchanged.

 

Aer Lingus Regional flights will be operated by the ATR72-600, the latest generation of turboprop aircraft combining unmatched environmental and economic performance.  These ultra-low fuel burn aircraft emit up to 40% less CO₂ on these short, regional flights.

Schedule & Avios
 

Airport	Route	Start Date	Frequency	Aircraft
Birmingham	BHD-BHX	24-MAR-22	Up to 3x Daily	ATR72-600
Leeds Bradford	BHD-LBA	27-MAR-22	Up to 2x Daily	ATR72-600
Manchester	BHD-MAN	27-MAR-22	Up to 3x Daily	ATR72-600
Edinburgh	BHD-EDI	27-MAR-22	Up to 2x Daily	ATR72-600
Exeter	BHD-EXT	08-MAY-22	Up to 5x weekly	ATR72-600
Glasgow	BHD-GLA	08-MAY-22	Daily	ATR72-600

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Emerald Airlines to operate Exeter Airport - Belfast City Airport route for Aer Lingus Regional

Emerald Airlines is all set to operate a new route between Exeter Airport and Belfast City Airport with effect from early May for Aer Lingus Regional. 

The route will operate up to five times per week and is part of a wider commitment by the carrier to Northern Ireland to ensure continuity of regional routes that have been operated previously by Aer Lingus, flyBe and British Airways.

Exeter Airport managing director, Stephen Wiltshire, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is great news for South West travellers, and we are delighted to welcome Aer Lingus franchise partner Emerald Airlines on to the Belfast route in addition to its previously-announced Dublin service which starts next month. Belfast has proved to be a hugely popular destination as passengers look for an exciting city break, and particularly with the growth of the staycation market. It adds up to a wide range of domestic and sunshine routes available to passengers from Exeter Airport, with 28 direct destinations in nine countries for 2022.”

Conor McCarthy, Emerald Airlines CEO, said: “We want to be the airline of choice for customers travelling to and from Belfast City Airport, and with today’s announcement we are well-positioned to deliver on that objective. We’re keen to build upon our announcement today, with more flights, destinations, and great fares to follow in the very near future.”

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Emerald Airlines kicks off PSO route between Dublin and Donegal

Conor McCarthy, Emerald Airlines; Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State; Eilis Docherty, Managing Director at Donegal Airport and Steve O'Cúláin, Chairman Donegal Airport, Photo RTE  

Emerald Airlines has started operating a route between Dublin and Donegal with a 72-seater ATR72-600, under the Aer Lingus Regional brand.

The carrier took over the route from Amapola Flyg AB which stepped in following the collapse of Stobart Air last year.  Emerald has a contract to run the Public Service Obligation PSO route for three year, but it expects that to be renewed on a year by year basis. 

Irish Minister Eamon Ryan had previously said, “Government-funded air services on the Donegal to Dublin route provide vital connectivity for Donegal and the North-West region to Dublin. I am delighted to announce that Emerald Airlines will operate services on this route commencing on 26 February 2022. I know that this route provides important reassurance for those who need to attend medical or other important appointments as well as supporting business and tourism in the region.”

Conor McCarthy, CEO of Emerald Airlines said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as the new operator of the vital air route between Donegal and Dublin for the next 3 years. This announcement is a great boost for ensuring continued connectivity from Donegal to Dublin, and beyond." 

 

"I would like to wish Emerald Airlines every success in operating and growing this route and providing the people and businesses in the North-West with daily air services to Dublin to attend medical and other important appointments as well as supporting the economy and tourism in the region," said Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton.

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Aer Lingus Regional to return to Belfast City through partnership with Emerald Airlines

In a bid to increase choice for customers travelling from Belfast and the wider region, Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional route network will expand out of Belfast City Airport, with a new base offering more choice and convenience to customers.  

 

Emerald Airlines intends to operate high-frequency routes from Belfast City to;

Birmingham

Edinburgh

Exeter

Glasgow

Leeds Bradford

Manchester

 

These new routes form part of a long-term deal reached between Emerald Airlines and Belfast City Airport to establish a new home-based carrier at the city-centre airport with ambitious growth plans and further new routes to be announced throughout 2022.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Conor McCarthy, CEO of Emerald Airlines said:   “There is a huge opportunity for Emerald Airlines here; we want to be the airline of choice for customers travelling from Belfast City Airport and we’re eager to build upon our announcement today, with new flights and destinations to follow in the near future.

 

"We are in advanced talks with British Airways and Aer Lingus regarding code sharing and other cooperation so that we can maintain the continuity and benefits of the current services offered by both airlines at Belfast City Airport. Operational set-up continues at pace, with the Belfast City Base, our UK AOC and employee recruitment progressing extremely well.

 

"We’re confident this news will be welcomed by the business community across the region which depend on connectivity more than ever as the recovery continues, and also to all those looking to get away for a much-needed break or to visit friends and family this year.

 

"Meanwhile we have received almost 1,000 applications for our Belfast-based roles and are now in the final stages of our recruiting process with the first round of training commencing in February.”

 

All routes will be operated under an exclusive franchise agreement as Aer Lingus Regional with customers also having the added benefit of a codeshare with British Airways and the ability to earn Avios rewards on all flights.

 

American Airlines and Aer Lingus launch new codeshare deal

The U.S. mega carrier American Airlines has signed a new codeshare deal with the Irish contingent of IAG Aer Lingus this week. This new deal will increase connectivity between the U.S and Europe for customers, American will place its code on Aer Lingus flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Dublin (DUB). Customers can also book codeshare flights on Aer Lingus from DUB to Amsterdam (AMS); Birmingham, UK (BHX); London Gatwick (LGW) and Manchester, UK (MAN); and from LHR to Belfast City, Northern Ireland (BHD); Cork, Ireland (ORK) and Shannon, Ireland (SNN).

“We are excited to extend our relationship with our newest joint business partner, Aer Lingus, with this codeshare agreement,” said Anmol Bhargava, American’s vice president of Alliances. “Through our trans-Atlantic joint business, customers have more choices to key destinations in Europe and now, Ireland.”

Additionally, customers travelling with Aer Lingus will now be able to book codeshare travel on American Airlines flights from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Albuquerque, New Mexico, (ABQ); Nashville, Tennessee (BNA); Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW); Los Angeles (LAX); Seattle (SEA); San Francisco (SFO); San Jose, California (SJC) and Tucson, Arizona (TUS).

Further expansion of the codeshare is also planned in the near future.

Reid Moody, Aer Lingus’ Chief Strategy and Planning Officer, said: “After almost two years of restricted travel we know that demand for dream vacations, business travel, and reconnecting families and friends in 2022 and beyond will be stronger than ever. We are delighted that through the codeshare agreement with American Airlines, Aer Lingus customers will be able to avail of greater connectivity options and more seamless travel between the U.S. and Europe via our Dublin hub, which also has the added benefit of US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) pre-clearance located in Dublin. Last week’s decision by the Irish Government to remove pre-departure COVID-19 test requirements for double-vaccinated passengers is more welcome news for those planning to travel. We look forward to extending our warm Aer Lingus welcome to more and more customers in the months ahead.”

Aer Lingus joined the Atlantic Joint Business (AJB) between American, British Airways, Iberia and Finnair last year. The AJB has brought significant benefits, such as lower fares and easier journeys to more destinations with better aligned schedules and frequencies, to millions of passengers since its launch in 2010.

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Aer Lingus celebrated the launch of its new Manchester - Orlando service at the weekend.

Aer Lingus, the Dublin based member airline of the International Airlines Group was in party mode at the weekend as it launched its latest route.  The firm celebrated the launch of its very first direct flight, EI 35, from Manchester Airport to Orlando, Florida.

Pictured Aer Lingus passengers with Universal Studios Shrek and Trolls characters at check-in for the Aer Lingus UK inaugural flight from Manchester Airport direct to Orlando, Florida.

Flight EI 35, operated by an A330 to Orlando is the third route launched by Aer Lingus UK as part of its new services from Manchester Airport direct to the United States and the Caribbean. Aer Lingus recently launched direct flights from Manchester to Barbados on 20th October and to New York, JFK on 1st December.

Holidaymakers wanting to visit the ‘Sunshine State’ of Florida, can choose from four weekly flights, with fares starting from £209 each way (including taxes and charges), departing each day at 11:00 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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British Airways and its Atlantic Joint Business partners set transatlantic dominance

The UK's British Airways, along with its IAG stablemates and American Airlines have strengthened its strategic Atlantic Joint Business partnership to exert dominance in the transatlantic market and arrange cooperative pricing. The mass group of airlines are also introducing a selection of new routes to choose from for Summer 2022.  New gateways include London to Portland, Barcelona to Los Angeles and Helsinki to Dallas.

The Atlantic Joint Business is a joint venture that started in 2010, between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia, with Finnair joining in 2013, LEVEL in 2017 and Aer Lingus in 2021.  By bringing their network of flights together, the partnership offers customers in the North Atlantic the most competitive choice, with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia and LEVEL operating in Europe and American Airlines in the USA.

Customers can mix and match flights operated by any of the six carriers to get the best deals and enjoy smoother connections through coordinated schedules.  The new routes are:

Aer Lingus

Two new North American routes have launched from its new base in Manchester:

Manchester to JFK New York, launched 1 December operating year-round

Operating 7 times a week

Fares start from £438 economy return including taxes and charges

Aircraft type A321Neo

 

Manchester to Orlando, launched 11 December operating year-round

Operating 4 flights a week – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; increasing to    daily flights from 2 May 2022

Fares start from £558 economy return including taxes and charges

Aircraft type A330-300

 

JetBlue and Aer Lingus expand codeshare deal.

 JetBlue has just announced it is expanding its codeshare partnership with the Ireland based IAG carrier Aer Lingus, providing customers more ways to book and connect their travel between the two airlines’ networks.

Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer, JetBlue (left) and Lynne Embleton, chief executive officer and chairman, Aer Lingus at the IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Boston on October 3, 2021. (Photo: Business Wire)

As part of the new bilateral codeshare, JetBlue is now placing its “B6” code on four Aer Lingus routes between JetBlue’s Northeast focus cities and Ireland:

New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to:

Dublin Airport (DUB)

Shannon Airport (SNN)

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to:

Dublin Airport

Shannon Airport

JetBlue intends to add its code to select Aer Lingus routes beyond Ireland in the near future.

“Connecting our customers with more of the destinations they want to fly to ensures JetBlue grows its relevance in the Northeast, and by expanding our partnership with Aer Lingus we’re introducing new options for travelers flying between the U.S. and Ireland,” said Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer, JetBlue. “More than 13 years after Aer Lingus became our very first international airline partner our relationship continues to strengthen in ways that bring more benefits customers on both sides of the Atlantic.”

“Our relationship with JetBlue is long-standing and valued,” said Lynne Embleton, chief executive officer and chairman, Aer Lingus. “All at Aer Lingus are looking forward to extending a warm Irish welcome to more JetBlue customers. These customers can now travel seamlessly to Dublin and Shannon airports as we continue to connect friends and families, businesses and colleagues from the US and Europe.”

JetBlue and Aer Lingus customers purchasing a codeshare itinerary benefit from having a single ticket that includes flights operated by both carriers, as well as conveniences on their day of travel like one-stop check-in and baggage transfer. Additionally, customers traveling to the U.S. from Ireland benefit from the convenience of pre-clearing customs prior to departing Dublin and Shannon, allowing them to be on their way faster after landing in New York or Boston.

JetBlue and Aer Lingus have partnered since 2008 and in 2013 announced a unilateral codeshare agreement. Today the Aer Lingus “EI” code is available on more than three dozen JetBlue routes and offer customers convenient connections through JetBlue’s New York and Boston focus cities.

Aer Lingus will operate 16 transatlantic routes from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester, UK to North America and the Caribbean in 2022. Aer Lingus is a 4-Star airline, awarded by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization. Aer Lingus is a member of International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the world's largest airline groups.

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Stobart Air collapse forces Aer Lingus to axe most flights from Belfast City Airport.

The news that regional airline Stobart Air is being liquidated after failing to find a buyer has led to the Irish carrier Aer Lingus to axe almost all flights from Belfast City Airport to several key UK destinations. 

Services that have been cancelled include flights to Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham. Aer Lingus said that all of its customers affected by the cancellations were being offered details of an alternative flight "where feasible" and also have the option of a full refund. 

The Irish airline has also said that of the routes affected by Stobart's liquidation, Aer Lingus will operate five routes and for at least the next week and BA City Flyer would operate two. Flights from Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow will not be affected.

"Teams across Aer Lingus have been working through the night progressing alternative flying operations from tomorrow to provide a service for Aer Lingus Regional customers," the airline confirmed in a statement.  

Stobart Air operated some routes within the Republic of Ireland for Aer Lingus as well and it is understood that all flights on those routes have all been cancelled for the foreseeable future. 

Stobart Air operated a fleet of ATR42/72 and Embraer E190 aircraft and in addition to the franchise flying it did for Aer Lingus Regional, it also operated tailored ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) wet-leasing services on both short and long term contracts.  It also provided private air charter flights for various customers including sports teams, tour operators, corporate firms and individual groups. 

According to reports, some 490 staff are affected, around 120 of those are said to be flight deck crew and the pilots union - Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association has confirmed it was assisting its members. 

Many in the industry expressed surprise at Stobart's collapse, however, the airline has been struggling in recent years. It had been involved in the failed attempt the resurrect for collapsed FlyBe under the Connect Airways brand along with Virgin and its parent company Esken. A number of poor management decisions in recent times had all had an impact on the airline plus the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic also took a great toll. As the carrier was about to lose its franchise contract with Aer Lingus (scheduled to end next year) financial problems with a possible buyer and Esken's refusal to pump more funds into Stobart Air meant there was little other option for the airline.

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Stobart Air to launch Belfast - Glasgow route in July.

Stobart Air, the operator of Aer Lingus Regional routes, has added a new route to its network, connecting Belfast and Glasgow through frequent flights.

The new Belfast City Airport (BHD) to Glasgow Airport (GLA) route will initially operate on a daily basis with 11 flights weekly, commencing on 1 July, and will increase to 19 flights weekly in August.

Anticipating a resumption of air travel within the Common Travel Area in line with the successful rollout of vaccination programmes across the UK and Ireland, Stobart Air has added this new route to its Aer Lingus Regional network to provide additional choice and frequency for customers wishing to travel between Belfast and Glasgow for business and/or leisure.

All Stobart Air flights will operate in line with Covid protocols put in place by the UK Government, Stormont Executive, and health authorities.

Stobart Air adds two new Aer Lingus Regional routes from Dublin and Belfast to Cardiff......

Stobart Air, the operator of Aer Lingus Regional routes, has confirmed it has added two new routes to its network, connecting the island of Ireland with the capital city of Wales.

The new Dublin (DUB) to Cardiff Airport (CWL) route will initially operate three times weekly, on Monday, Friday, and Sunday, commencing on 30 August. 

The new route between Belfast City Airport (BHD) and Cardiff will initially operate four times weekly on Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday commencing on 28 June. 

Anticipating a resumption of air travel within the Common Travel Area in line with the successful rollout of vaccination programmes across the UK and Ireland, Stobart Air has added these new routes to its Aer Lingus Regional network to provide additional choices for customers wishing to travel for business and leisure. 

All Stobart Air flights will operate in line with Covid protocols put in place by the UK and Irish governments and health authorities. Stobart Air has implemented enhanced health and safety measures to protect staff, crew and passengers, including enhanced aircraft cleaning, mandatory face coverings (with the exception of small children and those who are unable to wear a face mask for medical reasons), and boarding, disembarkation and in-flight procedures to reduce crew and passenger interaction.

Stobart Air adds two new routes from Exeter to Dublin and Newquay Cornwall to Belfast as new ownership concludes

Stobart Air, the operator of Aer Lingus Regional routes, has added two new routes to its network, connecting England’s southwestern coast with the island of Ireland.

The new Exeter Airport (EXT) to Dublin Airport (DUB) route will initially operate four times weekly, on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, commencing on 30 August.

The new Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY) to Belfast City Airport (BHD) will initially operate three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, commencing on 28 June.

Anticipating a resumption of air travel within the Common Travel Area in line with the successful rollout of vaccination programmes across the UK and Ireland, Stobart Air has added these new routes to its network to provide additional choices for customers wishing to travel for business and leisure.

 Andy Jolly, Managing Director at Stobart Air, said:  "We are committed to providing our passengers with frequent, convenient and affordable services through our regional connections. We look forward to welcoming our staff and customers onboard these new routes."

New ownership in place

IAG Cargo celebrates its 10-year anniversary

IAG Cargo marks its tenth anniversary, following a decade of expansion and innovation

 

The merger between British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo offered customers a ‘one-stop’ shop – creating a truly global network through the carriers in the IAG group spanning five continents

 

With the integration of Vueling, Level and Aer Lingus the business has transported cargo on almost 1 million flights (950,000) to over 450 destinations

 

08 April 2021 – This month, IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), celebrates its tenth anniversary – marking a decade of transporting vital shipments safely and efficiently for customers across the world.

 

IAG Cargo was created in 2011 following the merger of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, bringing together two distinct brands focused on providing a quality services for their customers to unlock the full potential of their networks. Since then, IAG Cargo’s mission – to be ‘always moving’ – has led it to become one of the largest cargo operators in the world, serving key sectors of the global economy including ecommerce, tech, manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceutical and aerospace. 

 

In total, in the last decade it is estimated that IAG Cargo has served nearly 14,000 freight forwarders, operated 950,000 flights, transporting millions of tonnes of cargo and flown to over 450 destinations worldwide using 30 models of aircraft.  Today, the business is trusted by some of the world’s best known brands to transport their precious cargo, from ancient artefacts for The British Museum, endangered animals for BornFree, vaccine shipments for Biological E to airplane parts for Boeing.

 

Aer Lingus to start transatlantic routes from Manchester.........................Non-stop services from to New York JFK, Orlando, Barbados and Boston

New services mark the airline’s first direct connections from the UK to the US and the Caribbean
Non-stop services from Manchester to New York JFK, Orlando,Barbados and Boston
Summer fares to the US start from £199 each-way as part of a return journey
Aer Lingus customers can avail of free, unlimited changes on all flights up to two hours before            departure with its ‘Book with Confidence’ offer

 

The Aer Lingus is to launch its first-ever transatlantic services direct from Manchester to the US and the Caribbean, which will create up to 120 new jobs.

Aer Lingus will commence four new routes from Manchester Airport flying to New York JFK and Orlando from 29 July, to Barbados from 20 October and to Boston from summer 2022.

Two of the four new routes, New York JFK and Boston, will be operated by the new single-aisle Airbus A321LR, making Aer Lingus the first airline to operate the aircraft on regular scheduled services between the UK and the US.

Services to holiday hotspots such as Orlando and Barbados will be operated by a larger Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

Aer Lingus offers highly competitive fares in both Business Class and Economy Class on its transatlantic services operating from Manchester with summer fares starting from £199 each-way, as part of a return journey.

Commercial revenues of €1,306 million for IAG Cargo during 2020

Photo British Airways

                              The cargo division of the International Airlines Group,  IAG Cargo has released details of its 2020 performance today and reported positive commercial revenues of €1,306 million over the whole of last year. 

  

IAG is one of the world's largest airline groups with 533 aircraft as of 31st December 2020. It is the third-largest group in Europe and the sixth-largest in the world, based on revenue.   

Overall yields for IAG Cargo for 2020 were up 94.6 per cent on the same time last year at constant currency. Sold tonnes were down 34.9 per cent.   

Lynne Embleton, CEO at IAG Cargo, said:  "In 2020, the IAG Cargo team delivered exceptional results amid a  challenging economic and capacity environment.   

Our top priority was to maintain a broad network and product proposition for cargo customers despite the pandemic. Without a freighter fleet, we adapted our operations and quickly established a comprehensive network of scheduled cargo-only flying using the group’s passenger aircraft. We identified markets most in need of air cargo supply, where the demand could support the yields required to cover the costs of cargo-only-services.  

IAG cuts even more capacity for the rest of the year.....

IAG, the owner of British Airways is planning more stinging cuts to its winter schedule as  "high uncertainty of the current environment" remains.

IAG has seen revenues slump by 83% to €1.2 billion during the third quarter of this year, the same period last year, the group was raking in €7.3 billion in 2019.  Capacity shrank by 78.6%, while passenger numbers fell by 88%.  All of which has left the group reporting an operating loss of around €1.3 billion this quarter. 

Because of the falling demand, increased entry and quarantine conditions, the group has said that capacity for the rest of this year will be "no more than 30%" of the 2019 levels and that looks set to continue until we're well in to 2021.

IAG’s chief financial officer, Stephen Gunning, aid: "Recent overall bookings have not developed as previously expected due to additional measures implemented by many European governments in response to a second wave of Covid-19 infections, including an increase in local lockdowns and extension of quarantine requirements to travellers from an increasing number of countries.  At the same time, initiatives designed to replace quarantine periods and increase customer confidence to book and travel, such as pre-departure testing and air corridor arrangements, have not been adopted by governments as quickly as anticipated."

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Birmingham and Manchester Services Take Off from Belfast City Airport

Belfast City Airport has further strengthened its UK route network with the inaugural Aer Lingus flights to Birmingham and Manchester taking off today, 14th September.

The Aer Lingus Regional routes will commence with a double-daily service, with up to three flights daily from 15th October, to conveniently connect passengers with the West Midlands area and the North West of England.

Katy Best, Commercial Director at Belfast City Airport, said:  “As hub airports, Birmingham and Manchester have always been popular routes served from Belfast City Airport, heavily utilised by both business and leisure audiences, as well as the student market, so it is great to have this connectivity secured once again.

“Today’s launches are the third and fourth in a series of six new route launches with Aer Lingus Regional. We very much look forward to working with the airline to ensure the success of these routes and bolstering regional connectivity from Northern Ireland.”

Aer Lingus Regional’s new service between Exeter and Belfast City takes off

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, launched on Friday, with the airline set to operate up to four weekly return flights from Exeter Airport to Belfast City Airport with fares starting from £34.99 one way including taxes. 

This route is the only flight from Exeter to the island of Ireland with Aer Lingus Regional, a new airline at Exeter Airport. This route will improve connectivity between Devon and Northern Ireland, as well as connecting the wider Southeast region to the island of Ireland. 

Following guidance from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stobart Air has implemented a number of enhanced health and safety measures to protect staff, crew and passengers. New measures include:

Aer Lingus Regional has launched a new route from George Best Belfast City Airport to Edinburgh.

Aer Lingus Regional has launched a new route from George Best Belfast City Airport to Edinburgh.

This service, operated by Stobart Air, will connect passengers from Northern Ireland to the Scottish capital up to three times daily, providing choice and convenience.

Edinburgh was the first of the six new Aer Lingus routes to take off from Belfast City, with the inaugural flight to Exeter following on Friday 28th August. Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford and Manchester will follow in a phased approach, in line with passenger demand and Government guidance.

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New routes from Belfast City Airport with Aer Lingus

Six new routes from Belfast City Airport starting this autumn will connect to various major cities across the UK.  The services are being operated by Stobart Air, for Aer Lingus Regional and the airline will base five ATR72-600 aircraft at Belfast City Airport.  The long-term plan is for the airline to operate over 200 flights weekly to and from Belfast. Stobart Air operates 30 Aer Lingus Regional routes from bases in Dublin, Cork and Belfast.

Brian Ambrose, Chief Executive at Belfast City Airport, said:  “Despite an extremely challenging environment, we’re delighted that Aer Lingus is to establish a new base and significantly enhance its UK network from Belfast City. As an island off an island, air connectivity with the rest of UK is critical to the enabling the Northern Ireland economy’s recovery.

This announcement is testament to the recent investments by our shareholder in making the airport and its facilities best in class, exceeding passengers’ expectations in a location only five minutes form the centre of Belfast.”

Edinburgh

Taking off 27th August Up to 3 flights a day Whether you're a foodie, culture vulture, outdoorsy type, or love to shop, Scotland's capital has something for you. Visit the Old Town to immerse yourself in arts and history, shop until you drop in Princes Street or sample the local cuisine at one of the New Town's top rated restaurants or bars. Click here to explore This is Edinburgh's official guide with top tips, trip inspiration, and guidance on the enhanced safety measures in place to ensure you can make the most of your trip.   5 interesting facts about Edinburgh: 1. Edinburgh Castle is built on a volcano The best spot in the city for panoramic views, Arthur’s Seat, is also an extinct volcano and you can even see volcanic rock at the top. 2. Edinburgh has more listed buildings than anywhere else in the world It is home to 4,500 listed buildings – 900 of which are Grade A! This includes Greyfriars Kirkyard, Parliament Hall, and the National Museum of Scotland. 3. And more trees per head than any other city in the UK With 112 parks across the city, Edinburgh is considered one of the UK’s greenest and is on track to be a ‘one million trees’ city by 2030. 4. The Royal Mile isn’t actually a mile long Home to some of the best eating and drinks spots in the city, the Royal Mile measures just over a mile with an extra 107 yards on the end. 5. Edinburgh invented the Jaffa Cake Invented in 1927 by McVitie and Price, the name was chosen for the iconic cakes after the Jaffa Oranges that they were flavoured with. Although it was widely debated if it was a cake or biscuit, following a challenge by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs it was decided in court that they were cakes – which still stands true to this day.

Manchester

Taking off 14th September Up to 4 flights a day​​​​​​​ Hailed as a gateway to the North, Manchester is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city packed with a world-class music scene, legendary football teams and fun for all the family. Not only can you meet some of the 15,000 animals at Chester Zoo - where The Secret Life of the Zoo is filmed - but you can also visit Legoland, explore the deep seas at Sea Life, or embrace your inner child at the North West's largest freestyle indoor park.