EasyJet has confirmed it will base a ninth aircraft at Belfast International Airport creating around 40 local job opportunities at the airport
The move comes after the airline operated it biggest ever summer flying programme from Belfast, flew a record number of passengers and launched six new routes from Belfast International in its 2023 financial year Belfast International’s largest airline easyJet has today announced it will base an additional aircraft at Belfast International Airport from next summer. The move comes after the airline operated its largest ever summer flying programme from Belfast International and flew a record 4.6m of passengers to and from Belfast International during its 2023 financial year.
The arrival of a ninth aircraft at its Belfast base will enable the airline to offer customers in Belfast even more choice and greater connectivity across Europe and beyond, as well as creating around 40 local job opportunities at the airport. easyJet already employs over 400 people at its Belfast base, and with the addition of the ninth aircraft easyJet expects to have over 450 employees based in Belfast International including pilots, cabin crew and base management.
The new neo aircraft will join three 156-seat Airbus A319, three 186-seat A320, and two 186-seat A320neo aircraft already serving the airline’s customers in Belfast International. Compared to the current generation of aircraft, the Airbus NEO brings significant environmental benefits and operational efficiencies compared to the previous generation of aircraft, resulting in at least 15pc less CO2 emissions and 50pc less noise during take-off and landing.
easyJet’s network in Belfast International has gone from strength to strength over the last year with six new routes, including services to and to Rhodes, Hurghada and Antalya from Belfast International. The airline has already announced six new routes for its 2024 financial year to Southampton, Larnaca, and Enfidha from Belfast International Airport.
Ali Gayward, easyJet England Country Manager, commented: “We are proud to be Belfast International’s largest airline and are delighted to have carried a record 4.6m passengers in our last financial year, offering them a fantastic network of routes from Belfast International Airport.
“We continue to see opportunity in Belfast which is why we are pleased to be basing another aircraft at our Belfast International base from next summer to offer our customers with even more choice like new routes to Enfidha and Larnaca, providing more connectivity to popular destinations across Europe and beyond, all with great value fares and a warm welcome onboard.”
Graham Keddie, Managing Director at Belfast International Airport, said:
“This continued expansion of easyJet’s base at Belfast International Airport underlines their commitment to Belfast International bringing increased investment and employment to the region. It also solidifies our commitment as part of the VINCI Airports network to improve connectivity and provide choice to local passengers.”
EasyJet connects Belfast International to major cities across Europe like Paris, Krakow, Nice, and Amsterdam, as well as to a range of fantastic leisure destinations like Faro, Tenerife, Malaga, Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt and a range of ski routes including Lyon, Bordeaux and Geneva as well as over 10 English and Scottish routes, offering customers great value fares and a convenient schedule for both leisure and business travellers.
EasyJet operates over 800 flights to and from Belfast International a week and has flown 73m passengers across 40 routes in 14 countries since operations began.
For more information on easyJet’s network from Belfast International Airport please visit easyJet.com.
