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Belgium’s leading airline Brussels Airlines has announced a new route from Belfast city to Brussels.
Northern Ireland will be linked five times a week with the European Capital by a Brussels Airlines 97-seater jet, www.u.tv reported.
The new service will start on 27 March next year and flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
The launch of the Belfast service also means that Belgian aviation is back in Ireland after an absence of 15 years.
“We are delighted that we can add Ireland to our continuously growing map of European destinations,” Brussels Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Lars Redeligx said.
“On a weekly basis we will offer close to 1000 seats on the route. Belfast is an important touristic, administrative and economic destination.
“Thanks to our investment in this new service we give the region also access to our Brussels Airlines and Star Alliance network. This is not only great news for the inhabitants of the Belfast area but also for the economy and the tourism industry in Ireland.”
Brian Ambrose, Chief Executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, added: “2015 has been a very successful year for Belfast City Airport with passengers numbers expected to be up 10% on last year.
“We have had our sights set on increasing connectivity with key European destinations and I am delighted that we have been able to deliver on these promises commencing both an Amsterdam and Brussels service.”
The new route has been welcomed by both business and tourism officials.
Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “Today’s announcement is really good news for tourism to Northern Ireland in 2016.”
“We look forward to co-operating with Brussels Airlines to maximise the promotion of this new flight to Belfast. As an island, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated ” they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism.”
Invest NI’s Chief Executive, Alastair Hamilton welcomed the announcement as it will help boost business links to Northern Ireland.
“Invest Northern Ireland is strongly committed to supporting the Northern Ireland Executive?s aim of enhancing direct air linkages between Northern Ireland and Europe as a vital contributor to economic Development,” he said.
“This new air route will be strategically important in helping to deliver this objective.”
“Our local exporters will now be positioned to take advantage of the direct connectivity it will offer to Brussels but also be able to use this service as a springboard further into Europe.”
Gerry Lennon, Chief Executive, Visit Belfast, added: “This brand new Brussels-Belfast air link will be hugely significant in our targeted efforts to promote Belfast as an attractive, modern and cosmopolitan city break destination to one of our key European markets and will be essential to assisting us in promoting our award-winning credentials as a leading, easy-to-access destination for major international conferences, meetings and events.”
“As the capital of an expanding Europe, Brussels is a major tourism market for the city and this new route will assist us greatly as we look to bring in even greater numbers of business and leisure visitors. It also strengthens our European connections further and will allow many more visitors to travel to Belfast, and to Northern Ireland, both directly and indirectly.”
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