Irish budget carrier Ryanair is closing its base at Belfast City Airport, blaming its decision on delays to a proposed runway extension.
The airline bases a single Boeing 737-800 at City, a base it opened three years ago. It serves five UK destinations from the airport: London Stansted, East Midlands, Glasgow Prestwick, Liverpool and Bristol.
Ryanair says the runway extension, which could allow the carrier to operate a broader range of routes, with a higher payload, has been held up to 2012 at least. The airline says it was "originally promised" in 2008 but delayed by a public inquiry.
It will shut the Belfast City base at the end of October and transfer the aircraft to another location.
"It makes no sense for Ryanair to continue to invest in Belfast City, operating restricted routes with less than full payloads," says chief executive Michael O'Leary.
He says the airline "recognises the right" to subject the runway proposal to an inquiry, and acknowledges the assistance from the airport's operator, but says the hold-ups to the process for "spurious" reasons "show a lack of willingness" on the part of local authorities.
"In these circumstances sadly we have better alternative airports elsewhere in the UK and Europe," he adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
