Airport Residents Concerned At City Move

Local residents have voiced their concern at the decision by airline bmibaby to switch its operations from Belfast International Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport.

The change of gateway airport will see up to 48 weekly flights leaving from the City rather than Aldergrove.

The umbrella residents' group, Belfast City Airport Watch, said it will be asking the Department of the Environment whether or not the planned move will mean that the airport is, once again, breaching planning regulations.

"Only last month, the Assembly's Environment Committee recommended that the airport's stipulated passenger limit should remain in place for now," said BCAW spokesperson, Dr Liz Fawcett.

"Committee members also voiced concern that the airport had, in fact, exceeded that limit in the 12 months to last July.

"The airport's passenger limit is vital in terms of noise management, and we are worried about the implications of this move by bmibaby.

"Many people expected us to celebrate when Ryanair departed, but we knew it wouldn't be long before other airlines moved in," she continued, noting, "what is needed is robust enforcement by the Department of the regulations under which the airport is supposed to operate".

"That hasn't been happening to date," the spokeswoman claimed.

The move will provide a fillip for the City only months after Ryanair pulled out of the airport in frustration at ongoing planning process delays in approving a proposed runway extension that would enable it to fly to more European destinations.

Brian Ambrose, Chief Executive at the City, welcomed the move: "This is great news, not only for the 1,500 people employed here but the wider community who rely on the airport's continuing success."

The budget airline said it was moving its Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and East Midlands services to the east Belfast facility because it offered a more convenient location.

However, while it is not great news for the recently expanded International Airport at Aldergrove, it will be a challenge for rival operator Flybe, which already flies from the City to the same destinations.

Commenting, the SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns has warned that the decision by BMI Baby to transfer its flight service to the City Airport from Belfast International would not provide any bonus points for the economy of Northern Ireland.

Mr Burns warned that the local travelling public would continue to be treated as pawns in a cynical exploitation ploy until Northern Ireland had a properly functioning Aviation Strategy.

"It is appalling that the airline travelling public are still without any coherent strategy for aviation in the 21st century.

"It should not be left to the whim of any political power block or influential business brokers to effectively dictate where, when and how our airlines operate. The public's voice has to be heard on this matter," he said.

"The decision by Iceland Express to start direct twice weekly flights to and from Reykjavik is an excellent example of how the International Airport is continuing to help attract overseas passenger traffic.

"It represents a tangible injection of real additional spending capital into the local economy. It is quite different from the rearranging of 'flight furniture' that is behind the BMI Baby move.

"I make no apology for being an advocate of Belfast International's role as the flagship airline hub of local aviation and it is vital that it is provided with all necessary support in its commitment to the development of a regional Aviation Strategy.

"When you strip away all the usual spin from the announcement by BMI Baby it is clear that there are no substantive benefits for the airline traveller.

"It is impossible to escape the conclusion that ultimately it is just 'window dressing' for the financial benefit of BMI Baby," he fumed.

(BMcC/GK)