Ryanair is to pull out of George Best Belfast City Airport, claiming it cannot wait for a proposed runway extension to be built.
The airline, which has operated from the east Belfast airport since 2007, is keen to extend its services to continental Europe in addition to its five destinations in Scotland and England.
The unexpected announcement was made by chief executive Michael O’Leary in Belfast today.
“It is very disappointing that the promised runway extension at Belfast City Airport has still not materialised more than three years after we opened the base at Belfast City,” he said.
“In these circumstances, sadly, we have better alternative airports elsewhere in the UK and Europe, all of whom are willing and able to provide us with the runway infrastructure and low-cost facilities we need.”
The airline carries some 800,000 passengers annually from the airport. Some 50 Ryanair jobs will go when services are halted on October 31st although alternative posts will be offered at other Ryanair bases. Up to 1,000 other jobs could be affected, Ryanair said.
The airline’s services from Derry City airport are unaffected.
A public inquiry is pending following vociferous opposition from residents in east Belfast to the proposed runway extension. Night time and other restrictions are also in place.
Rival airline easyJet questioned Ryanair’s complaints about runway provision.
EasyJet’s commercial manager for Northern Ireland, Ali Gayward, said: “We believe that there is sufficient airport capacity in Belfast today.
There must be a proper public inquiry before any decision over airport expansion is taken. Once again, Ryanair wants the red carpet rolled out for them, while easyJet and many other airlines are happy to fly from City Airport as it is today.”
Liz Fawcett, spokeswoman for Belfast City Airport Watch which opposes the runway extension, said: “Residents are very pleased. [Ryanair] had a particularly unpopular 6.30am flight and certainly this will give some respite.”
Independent Assembly member for east Belfast Dawn Purvis said Ryanair had thrown a “hissy fit” over the runway issue. Other political and commercial commentators regretted the decision.
Katy Best, business development director at Belfast City Airport said: “We are obviously disappointed at Ryanair’s decision.
The airline had provided five successful routes from Belfast City Airport.” She said Ryanair’s passenger levels showed there was local demand for the routes served.
“I am confident that we can attract other airlines to fill the void,” she added. “Our goal still remains to attract new airlines and new destinations to and from Belfast City Airport resulting in a much needed economic boost for the region.”
Environment minister Edwin Poots, who ordered the planning inquiry, regretted the decision. He said continental destinations could have been served from Belfast International Airport 25 miles away, where Aer Lingus is based.
Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, also regretted the announcement and said inbound tourism depended on easy access by customers in target markets.
“Tourism Ireland will continue its co-operative marketing efforts with the other carriers into Northern Ireland from the British market to help stimulate demand,” he said.
The SDLP also regretted the announcement. North Belfast Assembly member Alban Maginness said: “We have a planning process here that is so torturous and prolonged that it can, in some circumstances, act as a deterrent to investment in business and jobs in our economy.”
However Sinn Fein’s Niall O Donnghaille said: “This is nothing more than the typical type of behaviour most people will have come to expect from Michael O’Leary.” The NI Retail Trade Association said the pullout would damage the North’s economy as a whole.