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24/04/2017
Belfast Centre Of Aviation Industry
Belfast is the centre of the European aviation industry this week as the city hosts the three-day Routes Europe forum.
Routes Europe brings together airlines, airports and tourism authorities to plan new flights and strengthen existing routes, meeting in a new location every year to highlight different markets to the aviation industry.
Northern Ireland's success story is reflected in the growing demand for air travel. George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport welcomed 7.8 million passengers between them last year, the highest combined figure on record.
Around 1,200 route development professionals from 114 airlines, 270 airports and 36 tourism authorities will attend Routes Europe at the Belfast Waterfront.
Most of Europe's major airlines have registered including the five largest by available seats: Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, Air France and British Airways. Airlines from outside Europe include American Airlines, ANA, Hong Kong Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, will be interviewed on stage about the airline's ambition to become the ‘future Amazon of air travel'.
Steven Small, brand director of Routes, said: "Northern Ireland is a business and tourism destination on the rise. The demand for travel is increasing so there are significant route development opportunities for Europe's airlines."
Graham Keddie, managing director of Belfast International Airport, also said: "Hosting Routes Europe in Belfast cements both the city's and Northern Ireland's position as a great place to visit and to do business in.
"Belfast International Airport welcome the opportunities that Routes Europe will give us to present our wares and the rich range of iconic attractions which the airport provides direct access to."
Brian Ambrose, chief executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, added: "With record investment in Belfast and the highest ever tourism numbers being reported, Routes Europe's arrival in the city presents us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase this growth and positively change the traditional perception of Northern Ireland.
"We want to build on the region's economic and tourism success story by strategically enhancing Belfast City Airport's UK and European route network. There is a real demand in the region for direct connections to key destinations across Europe and it is our aim to continue to meet that demand.
"Located just a few minutes' drive from the city centre, Belfast City Airport is enjoying an exciting period of development, with our forthcoming new route to Reykjavik with Icelandair opening up connections to North America.
"As co-hosts of Routes Europe 2017 we are delighted to welcome 1,200 international aviation colleagues to Belfast. We pride ourselves on the strength of support we provide to our airline partners and look forward to demonstrating the unique services we deliver for airlines to grow traffic on their routes."
(MH/LM)
Routes Europe brings together airlines, airports and tourism authorities to plan new flights and strengthen existing routes, meeting in a new location every year to highlight different markets to the aviation industry.
Northern Ireland's success story is reflected in the growing demand for air travel. George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport welcomed 7.8 million passengers between them last year, the highest combined figure on record.
Around 1,200 route development professionals from 114 airlines, 270 airports and 36 tourism authorities will attend Routes Europe at the Belfast Waterfront.
Most of Europe's major airlines have registered including the five largest by available seats: Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, Air France and British Airways. Airlines from outside Europe include American Airlines, ANA, Hong Kong Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, will be interviewed on stage about the airline's ambition to become the ‘future Amazon of air travel'.
Steven Small, brand director of Routes, said: "Northern Ireland is a business and tourism destination on the rise. The demand for travel is increasing so there are significant route development opportunities for Europe's airlines."
Graham Keddie, managing director of Belfast International Airport, also said: "Hosting Routes Europe in Belfast cements both the city's and Northern Ireland's position as a great place to visit and to do business in.
"Belfast International Airport welcome the opportunities that Routes Europe will give us to present our wares and the rich range of iconic attractions which the airport provides direct access to."
Brian Ambrose, chief executive of George Best Belfast City Airport, added: "With record investment in Belfast and the highest ever tourism numbers being reported, Routes Europe's arrival in the city presents us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase this growth and positively change the traditional perception of Northern Ireland.
"We want to build on the region's economic and tourism success story by strategically enhancing Belfast City Airport's UK and European route network. There is a real demand in the region for direct connections to key destinations across Europe and it is our aim to continue to meet that demand.
"Located just a few minutes' drive from the city centre, Belfast City Airport is enjoying an exciting period of development, with our forthcoming new route to Reykjavik with Icelandair opening up connections to North America.
"As co-hosts of Routes Europe 2017 we are delighted to welcome 1,200 international aviation colleagues to Belfast. We pride ourselves on the strength of support we provide to our airline partners and look forward to demonstrating the unique services we deliver for airlines to grow traffic on their routes."
(MH/LM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
