Belfast City Airport could treble number of jet flights

A request by George Best Belfast City Airport to the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment to remove the limit on the number of seats it can sell would create intolerable conditions for local residents, an opposition group has claimed.

The local campaign group, Belfast City Airport Watch, said on the first day of a public inquiry into the airport's plan that its proposal could potentially "treble the number of jet flights". But airport bosses, including Brian Ambrose, chief executive of the airport insist lifting the limit would boost the economy, create jobs and attract new airlines. The airport has applied for the seats for sale restriction to be removed and replaced with a noise control cap and other noise control measures. But campaigners say that the annual number of jet flights could treble from its current level of 14,000 to 43,000 if the airport's plan gets the green light.

Belfast City Airport Watch claims this would significantly change the current mix of aircraft that uses the airport. It says figures compiled by the airport show that up to 18,000 local residents could be affected by a noise level.