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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Aer Lingus move brings jobs boost | Aer Lingus move brings jobs boost |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Aer Lingus is to create more than 100 new jobs with the launch of new flights from Belfast International Airport. | Aer Lingus is to create more than 100 new jobs with the launch of new flights from Belfast International Airport. |
| Three aircraft will be based at the Aldergrove hub, flying to Amsterdam and London Heathrow, plus several other European cities. | Three aircraft will be based at the Aldergrove hub, flying to Amsterdam and London Heathrow, plus several other European cities. |
| Aer Lingus said its investment of £100m had the potential to bring up to 1m new passengers to the airport every year. | Aer Lingus said its investment of £100m had the potential to bring up to 1m new passengers to the airport every year. |
| Company chief executive Dermot Mannion said NI was becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. | Company chief executive Dermot Mannion said NI was becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. |
| "Belfast International Airport is the ideal location for the new Aer Lingus base, offering 24/7, all-weather operations and long runways capable of accommodating all current and future Aer Lingus development potential," he added. | "Belfast International Airport is the ideal location for the new Aer Lingus base, offering 24/7, all-weather operations and long runways capable of accommodating all current and future Aer Lingus development potential," he added. |
| Aer Lingus' schedule will be announced later on Tuesday. | Aer Lingus' schedule will be announced later on Tuesday. |
| It's believed that Aer Lingus may launch transatlantic flights from Belfast Yvette Sharpiro | |
| It is understood it will include flights to Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva which will begin in December. | It is understood it will include flights to Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva which will begin in December. |
| Flights to London Heathrow are expected to follow in January, with services to Budapest, Faro, Malaga and Rome starting the following month. | Flights to London Heathrow are expected to follow in January, with services to Budapest, Faro, Malaga and Rome starting the following month. |
| Aer Lingus chose Belfast over Birmingham for its new UK hub. | Aer Lingus chose Belfast over Birmingham for its new UK hub. |
| DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said Aer Lingus' choice of Belfast International would be a boost for the economy and tourism. | DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said Aer Lingus' choice of Belfast International would be a boost for the economy and tourism. |
| "I think they are looking to the future, they recognise that Northern Ireland is going to be one of the major growth areas," he said. | "I think they are looking to the future, they recognise that Northern Ireland is going to be one of the major growth areas," he said. |
| Aer Lingus is to spend £100m on its Belfast operations | |
| Sue Ward from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board also welcomed the move. | |
| "We are delighted with this news. just over three years ago we had only one international flight into Northern ireland and now we are hitting on the 30 figure," she said. | |
| It is understood Aer Lingus flights between Shannon and Heathrow will be stopped as part of the company's move to Belfast. | |
| Fianna Fail TD Tony Killeen said jobs and tourism would be affected there. | |
| "It was the one flight you knew you had to book well in advance because you knew it would be full, but despite that the company are saying their yield on it was low," he said. | |
| Most of the routes are already served by rival carriers such as Jet2 and Easyjet and a price war is anticipated. | Most of the routes are already served by rival carriers such as Jet2 and Easyjet and a price war is anticipated. |
| "Competition for passengers will be fierce and travel industry experts say that prices will almost certainly tumble in the short term at least," said BBC NI business correspondent Yvette Shapiro. | "Competition for passengers will be fierce and travel industry experts say that prices will almost certainly tumble in the short term at least," said BBC NI business correspondent Yvette Shapiro. |
| "In the longer term, it's believed that Aer Lingus may launch transatlantic flights from Belfast." | "In the longer term, it's believed that Aer Lingus may launch transatlantic flights from Belfast." |