Originally Posted by EI-BUD
The Irish department of tourism say that 2/3 (two thirds) of all visitors from overseas coming to NI do so via ROI, ie mainly Dublin. That says that there are opportunities.
Where are the opportunities going to come from though? The only airlines that could've capitalised on those potential opportunities are already serving Belfast(or about to leave), and yet as you point out 2/3 of all visitors to the North of Ireland continue to travel via Dublin. Even if you look at the island as a whole, 90% of all visitors to the island of Ireland travel via Dublin.
If Belfast had 1 airport, then maybe it might have the potential to counter the influx of tourists away from Dublin, but with 2 competing airports it'll never happen.