Belfast International Airport is to lose one of its largest airline operators and with it up to 700,000 customers per year to its chief rival Belfast City.
BMI British Midland yesterday announced its decision to switch all its routes between Northern Ireland and Britain from Belfast International to the new £21 million sterling (#34 million) Belfast City Airport.
BMI has operated all of its routes to and from Northern Ireland from Belfast International Airport for 20 years.
The airline has been involved in a long-standing dispute with the owners of Belfast International Airport, TBI, for several years over landing charges in Northern Ireland.
TBI, which also owns Luton Airport, Cardiff and airports in Sweden and the US, admitted that it was disappointed that the airline had decided to transfer its base to Belfast City Airport.
BMI British Midland chief executive Mr Austin Reid said the decision by the airline to transfer its operation to Belfast City had not been taken lightly.
He said the company planned to invest £1.5 million sterling in new facilities at Belfast City Airport.
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