Airport Boost 'Failing On Transportation'

A Co Antrim MLA has called for an upgrade on transport links to Belfast International Airport.

The Ulster Unionist South Antrim politician, Danny Kinahan - while welcomed the opening of a new entrance to Belfast International Airport as the latest phase of a £10 million redevelopment scheme - has called for Aldergrove's road and rail access to be upgraded.

Praising the airport for its vision of the future, Mr Kinahan (pictured) said: "This facility is a lynchpin in facilitating Northern Ireland's business and tourism capabilities, and such investment is a welcome addition to this invaluable asset.

"I was suitably impressed by the spacious new entrance hall and look forward to the next phase of the development programme, which involves a complete reconfiguration of the rest of the departures area.

"This will enhance the capabilities and position it to meet the tourism and business demands of the future.

"Given that Belfast International Airport is the second largest airport on the island of Ireland, this development can only help to secure future inward investment," he said.

However, he also called for a boost to investment beyond the airport too: "While this is a tremendous step forward, the airport cannot consolidate its success without related infrastructural changes and targeted tourism strategies.

"In particular, Belfast International Airport is being held back by inadequate transport links into the city, to the M2 and indeed to the M1.

"We must look at the long-term rewards of investing in road and rail links with this transport hub as a matter of urgency," the South Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA and local councillor said.

The MLA's call came at the same time as an attempt to reinstate funding for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link into the Scottish budget was rejected.

SNP and Conservative members of the Holyrood Finance Committee voted down the move.

Labour wanted their report to include a call for the Ministers to bring back the £120m project in its conclusions - but has now failed to do so.

See: Rail Link Bid Rejected

(BMcc/GK)