Jobs Flying In Londonderry Air

Air travellers in Spain, Portugal, Italy and many Latin America countries are being helped to source cheap flights by an internet business in Londonderry.

Vuelos Baratos, based at Clarendon Street in Derry city, is investing over £1 million to build on the popularity of the air travel websites it has already launched in Spain, Portugal, Italy and in most Latin American markets including Argentina, Brazil and Mexico in the relevant languages.

The new investment has already led to the creation of seven new jobs - it currently employs nine people.

The investment was announced by Marcello Alderi, who founded the company with partner Stephen Marner in February 2004, and welcomed by Ian Murphy, Invest Northern Ireland's Managing Director of Clients and Entrepreneurship.

Invest NI has provided around £60,000 in Export Start support towards eligible project costs of £473,000 to help develop the business in key areas such as export marketing. It has also provided advice in IT and how to maximise the business potential of Google and other search engines.

Mr Alderi, the Managing Director, said: "Our focus is on the development of software and the operation of easily accessible websites for people wishing to find the cheapest flights.

"Our sites are proving to be immensely successful and have positioned us for further growth in these and other international markets. The success is built on our IT skills, especially in web design and depth of knowledge that we possess of markets throughout Europe.

"Vuelos Baratos is essentially a development company specialising in what have become the market leading travel comparison engines in major European markets. We now offer a comprehensive service for travellers seeking the cheapest flights offered by both low-frills and conventional airlines throughout Europe.

"We have created a successful and flexible business model that can be extended relatively easily to other international markets. We are operating in what is a very dynamic and competitive marketplace with immense growth potential. This investment will enable us to maximise the business opportunity and to stay ahead of existing and new competitors," he added.

Mr Murphy, announcing Invest NI's backing for the investment, said: "This is an extremely innovative company focused outside Northern Ireland. Currently all its business comes from outside the region and is an entrepreneurial business that has developed immensely impressive technology. It shows that Northern Ireland's peripheral position does not present any obstacles to ambitious companies.

"Furthermore, the investment will create good quality employment opportunities in higher-value added activities such as bespoke software development, export marketing and multi-lingual services to customers outside the British Isles. The company also has its sights firmly set on other international markets."

(BMcC)