If they are including the Canaries as part of their existing network that will indeed be interesting.

If this proves to be true then it can only be good news for us as consumers.

To take another point of view in the ongoing debate, why don`t both governments get behind Dublin as the Island of Ireland International Airport with all the choice that is currently there and consider closing Aldergrove. Dublin has a fantastic infrastructure now in place and I would suggest that for a lot of people it is as quick to travel to Dublin by car as it is to get to Aldergrove by the time you have dodged all the tractors on the dodgy roads leading to it!

Harbour could be left to get on with what its currently doing and there would be no expense to improve roads and try and artificially create a market for Aldergrove.

Standing by for rabid anti Harbour comments from the usual suspects...:E

BBC must be reading this forum. No decision has been made yet, I would expect an announcement from EI to state this.

Not ruling out a move, but as far as I know they have yet to decide

Well on the domestic front they could either choose to tread safely and do say EMA or BRS where there is only one competitor or go for the kill and run into more major airports. Although some people have suggested flybe would wipe the floor with them I'm not so sure, I don't really see flybe wiping the floor with anyone. Holding firm where it suits indeed but EI is not exactly a small brand and the N.I market is now well used to them. Its also starting to point at BA not planning to be in the market terribly long.

An interesting quote today from the UTV website below:

A spokesman for George Best Belfast City Airport said: "Following the announcement of the departure of bmibaby, we stated that we were confident that we would attract new airlines to Belfast City.

"This position has not changed and we expect to make several announcements in the coming weeks.

"We are certainly not in a position to comment on speculation regarding specific airlines at this stage."

The plot thickens! It may or may not be Aer Lingus but it definitely looks like there is something being hatched..

Aer Lingus to switch to George Best Belfast City Airport
 

Really hope it's not true, if they want to expand into the UK why don't they stay at BFS where there is no competition on many regional routes. If they go to the city they will up against flybe a everything. Seriously what's the point? Unless maybe they think my leaking this to the papers it might get BFS management to give them the deal they want. When I was talking to EI crews the other week they said they wouldn't be too happy in moving

Believe it. The deal is done. They are moving to the city and operating the domestic network I stated earlier, plus a smattering of sun routes and Geneva. The deal was put to them following the bmi baby decision to cease operations and agreed a number of weeks ago.

I would have thought the bbc who were first to post the news would have credible sources. Of course EI's crews will be upset, in between delivering great service (and i mean that its not sarcasm) being upset at changes is what they do best. Be interesting to see how many aircraft are based there and will a further two A319's come on stream as predicted.

If Aer Lingus do.move it wil.not be until 28 october due to current summer schedule. LPA. ACE. TFS will all be canceled which is why extra capacotyhas being added from DUB.

It will also be interesting to hear if it will be the aerlingus regional planes operated by aerarran that will be doing all of the domestic services except the LHR ones which one would pressume will be operated by the 319/320's.

Interesting times ahead...............

Really pleased with this news. Means I don't have to trek up to Lough Neagh every two weeks to get to Heathrow. Happy Days. Well done Aer Lingus :)

can see it being a co-operation schedule between EI and BA from BHD to LHR though can still see then maybe basing the A320 at BFS to operate LHR, its still a possibility. They are allowed to dual base as they are an Irish Company. Would wait until there is official confirmation though, as anything is possible at this point.

I can see why developing Dublin as the hub for the Island of Ireland would be of great benefit to the economy of the Republic, however I struggle to see how that and a closure of Aldergrove would benefit the economy of the North.

Surely, in the opinion of someone viewing this form afar, you have to accept the situation Belfast has 2 airports competiting which each other for services and this wont change. The closure of either will not benefit Northern ireland at all, would it.

Andrew R. Glad you're pleased with the news but I must ask, as there has always been an operator from BHD to LHR and you don't like the journey to
' Lough Neagh' why were you doing it every two weeks? doh!

I still think everything should be taken with a pinch of salt until it is officially confirmed by the Airport or Airline as below story makes me beleive:

Aer Lingus Belfast story is just 'speculation' - RT News

I think this is in the first instance a nonsense comment. Based on the comments that suggest (incl BALPA) that Belfast would be best served with 1 airport, suggesting that BFS is the first option is not anti Harbour Airport, it is the common sense approach.

If there was to be one airport for Belfast, Belfast would have to be the choice for a host of obvious reasons, including:

• 24hr ops no curfews
• Significant and important cargo centre
• no caps on pax or flight numbers
• one of the longest runways on the Island of Ireland
• Room to expand when and if needed
• No conflict with local neighbours
• RAF faciities

As much as you wouldnt like to have to drive to BFS, I certainly dont feel like driving over 100 miles for a flight to Dublin, not even to consider that BHD Being the only airport would result in sky high fares as it would be full to capacity. We would be choosing Dublin simply because it was the only cost effective airport. BFS on the other hand will be able to facilitate plenty of extra flights and competition.

To suggest that Dublin should supplement BHD as an alternative to BFS is a total nonsense. BHD does not have the capacity to handle the total passenger numbers and we have to be in a place to facilitate the numbers for tourism.

Now as Brian Ambrose has stated both are commercial entities and make a return, so they are able to continue on, however, my view is that Belfast needs one airport, and does not infer that I am anti BHD, I use it often and like the experience of the airport. I have watched it grow since the 80s. The airlines are the winners in all of these negotiations and my view is that in the long run the funds to develop the facilities will not be there and we will have 2 airports that resemble Prestwick.

EI-BUD

You'd have to be stupid to drive 100 miles or spend 2 hours on the bus to Dublin airport to catch a flight to London or Birmingham or anywhere else. That suggestion that we should all focus on Dublin is absolutely laughable.

I'm really pleased EI are moving to a more central airport (ala BHD) for their UK ops. Let BFS stick to what they are good at, high car-parking charges and bucket and spade charters.

Well done Aer Lingus.

AIRPORT66
 

Why is the BBC announcing that AerLingus are moving there operations from BFS to BHD why is the airline itself not doing this or is this just something that has been leaked to the press to try stir the pot a little in reference to car parking charges at Bfs they are charging 5 per day same as Bhd so when was the last time you parked your car there.

Car Parking at BFS
 

And if you have Speedy Boarding Plus membership you get a 10% discount so £4.50 per day.

Andrew, you can park for as little as £2-3 a day at BFS.. Unofficial car park, but still safe

Yeh and you can pay £2-3 at non official airports at BFS

AIRPORT66
 

Yeah £2-£3 pound a day and you can spin the wheels round killead lodge when you go to collect your car when you arrive back.

Just watched the bbc newsline report, did anyone comment? No. Seemed as if the reporter was grasping at straws and looked like a pillock outside BHD

What has simply happened is someone has heard the rumor and it's been reported... Neither airport or airline is in position to announce anything as agreements are still been worked on.. Even though some claim it's a signed deal.. Until we get an official announcement anything could happen. But I believe they will move.

Que FlyBE starting BFS flights...

If flybe move to BFS (which i would love to see them do after being shat on from a height by BHD management for over a decade) we can all say goodbye to BHD

If no deal has been done, why were the EXCO told when they visited yesterday?

The Flybe reaction to this may just surprise everyone.

Larry the man, what do you think their reaction will be?

I don't quite see how anyone can claim BHD have done the dirty on bE. Surely its only like any airport allowing a competitor in. The fact that BE have such a monopoly there is a reflection on the lack of competition, the last thing BHD needs is one operator. Its the fastest way to stagnate a business and stifle growth. Ultimately also if BE were to move their operations to BFS it would put them in direct competition with EZY, and that would surely be a precarious position. It wouldn't be the first time BE have been one of 3 operators on a route, BHX-BFS/BHD being one example.

Is it possible that Aer Lingus Regional have agreed to move into the markets suited to the ATR from NHD leaving the bucket and spade brigade as well as LHR at BFS?

Indeed is it more likely given the recdent move from A320 to A319 that they can't make money in Belfast from BFS against EZY and this is a last throw of the dice to see if they can get into the black?

No because we know the base is profitable. I think the move from A320 to A319 was to increase yields on their routes, and with the reduced capacity, help to sustain route frequencies.

UTV are now reporting the move also. They
must be basing their story on PPRuNe too.......

No chance of BE moving to BFS. Again laughable.

Any worse that saying the move is great as you avoid the drive to Lough Neagh, when you had a 6/7 times a day service from that same airport you are now looking forward to using? You could have been avoiding that drive for years if BHD is so good.

TB

With an airline that charges double Aer Lingus' fares hence the company i work for choose Aer Lingus. Can't wait to fly EI out of the city rather Lough Neagh holding centre. Seriously Baku has a nicer airport.

Well the offers BHD offer airlines in a view years time they won't even be able to afford a tin of paint so BFS want look too bad then

And you didn't have to before, seeing how there was always a service from BHD.

Is there enough stands for the Aer Lingus A319s at BHD?

Yes it just means 1 or 2 flybe ac will be banished to the old airport stands

So you think EI will still be the cheaper option out of Bhd. Think on. If Ba and Ei codeshare on this route, that makes a monopoly. Watch the fares go up. If your employer is that price sensitive, you might still end in the Baku airport flying orange.

TB