Quote from NI Travel news:
GETTING a new transatlantic operator to Canada is the number one priority of Belfast International Airport.
"It is absolutely critical to get a new service to Toronto in particular," said Uel Hoey, the Airport's Business Development Director.
"We are working closely with DETI in an attempt to fill the gap left by the Globespan failure.
"We also need more support from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board given that two operators to Canada, Globespan and Zoom have left the market in little more than a year.
"We need a direct service into Belfast. A Canadian visitor who flies into Dublin might come to Northern Ireland for two or three nights - but one who uses a direct service into Belfast would on average spend 11 to 12 nights here, so the benefit to the tourism industry is obvious."
Belfast International will be trying to persuade another operator, such as Air Transat, back on to the Belfast route. Other possibilities could include Air Canada or Aer Lingus.
"We will be doing anything we can - there is now a definite gap in the market," he added. "Just a few years ago the Canadian market was in the region of 40,000 seats so there is a definite demand to be catered for. Toronto was always a very strong destination from Belfast, but also onwards to places like Vancouver."
The Belfast International executive also identified Orlando as another destination under-served because of the Globespan collapse.
"There are no muddy waters here… Northern Ireland needs an operator offering more capacity to both Toronto and Orlando as soon as possible."