Airporter Opens City Centre Routes

There is a new bus service between NI's two main airports and Belfast city centre from today.

Despite the continuing recession and fears over this month's UK-wide cutbacks, coach operator, Airporter, has announced details of a new direct link between both Belfast airports and the Belfast Hilton Hotel and Waterfront Hall.

The new routes aimed at making travelling more convenient from the airports to and from the city centre were launched on Monday.

Airporter Managing Director, Niall McKeever, identified the opportunity to expand the company's route network. He is pictured here (by Harrison Photography) with Carolyn Boyd, Industry Development Manager, Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), who welcomed the new bus service.

"Not only does this new service provide a direct link from the airports to the heart of the city's financial centre but it is also bringing tourists to a stone's throw from some key destinations - Victoria Square shopping centre, St. George's Market, the Odyssey Arena and Central train station - also providing train access to Newry and Dublin," she commented.

Niall McKeever said: "This new service will be appealing to those travelling from the airports who want direct access to the conferencing, legal and shopping heart of Belfast city centre.

"The Hilton Hotel and Waterfront Hall are two of Belfast's preferred venues for conferences and business meetings so this service will be particularly attractive to those flying into Belfast on business.

"There currently isn't a direct bus service from either of these locations to the airports and we are confident that they will be a popular method of travel."

The new service will operate 11 times daily between Belfast Hilton Hotel/Waterfront Hall and both George Best Belfast City and Belfast International airports - with passengers able to reserve their tickets using Airporter's online reservation system.

Airporter is a family-run business, which already operates a bus service to and from Derry/Londonderry to George Best City Airport and Belfast International Airport and has been in business since 1996.

(BMcC/KMcA)