20% Rise In Passenger Numbers At Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport has reported a surge of almost 20% in passenger numbers in January.

The growth rate will be exceeded from the end of March with the arrival of Ryanair which will operate a four-times daily service to Gatwick.

Last year, the airport recorded almost 4.4 million passengers, and 2016 will see it closing in on the 5 million mark.

Managing Director, Graham Keddie, said: "Our January figures are a tribute to our existing airlines which have added hundreds of thousands of seats. easyJet, Jet 2, United, Wizz are all enjoying increases in passenger traffic.

"Even without Ryanair on the apron, the airport is set for a year of unprecedented growth.

"Some of our airlines are keen to expand the route network to mainland Europe and are only waiting on Tourism Ireland, Invest NI and the Government to come up with appropriate levels of marketing support.

"We've also got the Air Route Development Fund which has been years in the making and which may appear by the end of March. We will obviously welcome such a Fund and seek our fair share of it.

"For the fund to be effective, it must be earmarked for new routes that will deliver in-bound tourists from key markets such as Germany and Scandinavia."

(CD)