Virgin to launch service from Belfast to US in summer 2015

Virgin Atlantic is to fly from Northern Ireland to the United States next summer, for the first time.

The airline, founded by Richard Branson 30 years ago, will operate a direct service from Belfast International to Orlando.

Virgin Atlantic, which will be the only scheduled airline to fly the route from the North, plans to enter the market with four Boeing 747 services from next June.

Craig Kreeger, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: "It's incredibly important to us to offer customers, from all across the UK, access to our long-haul network during peak travel periods."

Virgin Atlantic operates nearly 40 return flights a week across its network to Florida and the service from Northern Ireland will add an additional 3,600 seats to the holiday destination over the season.

The airline plans to deploy a Boeing 747-400 aircraft on the seasonal service on Thursdays in June and July.

Uel Hoey, business development director at Belfast International Airport, hopes the launch of the Belfast-Orlando route will be as popular as Virgin’s Glasgow to Orlando route, which has seen a steady increase since it launched seven years ago.

“This is one of the most exciting announcements we have had at Belfast International Airport in recent years.

“Virgin has an enviable global brand and this vote of confidence in Belfast International Airport and the market in Northern Ireland is a welcome boost in our efforts to attract additional airline activity and sustained growth across Northern Ireland’s air transport network,” Mr Hoey said.

Industry sources believe the route could create new competition for Aer Lingus which has traditionally attracted many passengers from the North to its Dublin to Orlando route.

Virgin Atlantic said its Belfast service will form part of its joint venture with Delta Air Lines.

This means that those flying from Northern Ireland will also be to use Delta's services out of Orlando International Airport to connect onwards to numerous destinations across the United States.