Speaking to FlightGlobal at the Routes Europe conference in Belfast today, Keddie says that six of the eight routes are to unserved markets and that “one of them is a route which will be the only one operated from this island” in reference to both Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Keddie does not disclose the identity of the airline, but tells FlightGlobal that it is an existing carrier operating into Belfast and has a “Union Jack on the tail”.
The new routes will be disclosed on 26 April and will be operated from summer 2018, Keddie says.
The journalist may have muddled their facts.
Based on all the rumours floating around.
What about 8 new routes, six by an existing carrier at BFS with one unique route not yet served from Ireland (LS), two new routes to Rome (FR) and LHR (BA). With the LS routes being announced tomorrow, and the others at a later date.
Do LS fly currently to any destinations not yet available from the island of Ireland from their other bases?
It would be a no brainer for BA to move to BFS. Much more flexibility with aircraft and flight timings, why wouldn't they?
Either Graham was jesting or serious about union flag on tail. However that reference can only be BA IMO.
This routes 'party' is show casing NI at a fair cost, if the LS routes are the main gain then a bit of a disappointment as these routes probably would have been announced anyway. Reports are suggesting 5 sun routes and one city destination!
So out of the 6 routes to be announced tomorrow if only one is a city destination then not a rush of inbound traffic for local tourism!