Flybe urge rejection of Belfast City runway extension
09.12.09
Flybe has asked Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson to intervene over Belfast City Airport’s runway extension planning application. The UK regional budget airline flies domestic routes from Belfast City, but is opposed to plans to extend the runway by 590m to allow planes to fly further, opening up new destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean favoured by rival Ryanair, who established a base at the airport earlier this year.
It is reported that Environment Minister Edwin Poots could be poised to approve the plans to extend the runway before Christmas. But Flybe Chief commercial officer, Mike Rutter, met with the First Minister yesterday, telling him that the plans threatened the airport’s status as a ‘breeze-through’ short-haul hub that has been concentrating on business customers and bringing investment there. It also threatens Flybe's status at the airport, with rival Ryanair potentially picking off Flybe's most profitable routes with its larger planes.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book belfast airport hotel or belfast airport car park at the lowest price click on these links to belfast airport car parking and belfast airport hotel price comparison pages.