Competition hots up in Belfast with Ryanair move
Ryanair will step up competition at Belfast this autumn when it begins operating a new Boeing 737-800 from Belfast City Airport.
On October 30, it will start a four-times daily service to London Stansted and a second daily service to Liverpool.
It claims its arrival will end a ‘high fare stanglehold’ imposed by
Bmi and easyJet.
It will also compete against Aer Lingus, which is due to launch 12 flights a week between Belfast International Airport and London Heathrow from January 14 in a codeshare with British Airways.
On December 10, Aer Lingus will also launch 14 flights a week to Amsterdam, five flights a week to Barcelona and two a week to Geneva.
Rome, Budapest, Malaga and Faro will be added to the Aer Lingus network on February 25.
Ryanair is guaranteeing the lowest fares from any Belfast airport to any London airport and claims it will pay double the difference if passengers find a lower fare with any other airline.
It will also fly daily from Belfast City to East Midlands Airport and daily to Glasgow.
CEO Michael O’Leary said: “Ulster has repeatedly said ‘No’ to high fares, well from 30 October next Ulster can say ‘hello’ to £10 fares with Ryanair.”
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season