Ryanair's Belfast City Flights Withdrawn

Services from Belfast to London Stansted and four other UK destinations have been axed by the Irish budget airline, Ryanair this past weekend.

Despite having admitted its Belfast base is profitable, the airline announced it was closing its base at George Best Belfast City Airport in August and made its last flight out of Belfast on Sunday after a row over delays to a proposed runway extension.

Ryanair has been operating from the airport since 2007 on five routes - London Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands, Prestwick and Liverpool.

The firm flew about 800,000 passengers a year to and from the airport and will continue to operate flights out of City of Derry airport.

Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said in August he was disappointed that the inquiry into the runway extension plans had still not gone ahead three years after Ryanair opened its Belfast City base.

He said if planning permission was granted in the future, then Ryanair would come back.

Ryanair's withdrawal could come at a cost of 1,000 jobs, either at the airport or in the local tourism industry.

Belfast City Airport has wanted to build a runway extension for some time, which would have allowed Ryanair to fly to destinations further afield.

The length of the runway currently at the airport limits the type of aircraft that can land there.

The public inquiry was delayed until the airport provides further information on its plans, amid environmental, social and economic objections.

Meanwhile, Ryanair's latest half-year profits have risen 15% after the airline enjoyed a big increase in passenger numbers.

The Irish carrier made a pre-tax profit of €482.50m ($674m; £420m) in the six months to 30 September, up from €419.40m a year earlier.

Passenger numbers for the six months totalled 40.1 million, a 10% increase on last year, while Ryanair's revenues were up 23% to €2.2bn.

See: Belfast City Airport's Seat Cap 'May Remain'

(BMcC)