Aer Lingus launches new Belfast routes

Aer Lingus will launch four new international routes from Belfast this week.

Aer Lingus will launch four new international routes from Belfast this week.

Flights four days a week to Rome and Malaga were launched today with those to Faro and Budapest three days a week taking to the air tomorrow.

The expansion brings to eight the number of routes the airline has launched since it controversially set up its hub at Belfast International Airport in December.

The airline already operates services to London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva. The new routes also mean the basing of a third aircraft at the Belfast base.

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A daily service to Paris starting on March 30 and flights to Nice beginning on April 1 will complete the planned network of ten destinations.

Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said: "These exciting new routes add to our growing network of services to and from Belfast International Airport and reinforces Aer Lingus' commitment to offering customers from all over the island of Ireland greater choice, value for money and a quality service."

Mr Mannion added: "We are particularly delighted to be the first airline to offer Budapest as a destination from Belfast International Airport.

"The beautiful Hungarian capital's dramatic setting and diverse culture attractions make it an attractive short break destination and we anticipate it will be hugely popular."

John Doran, the managing director of Belfast International Airport said: "We are very pleased to see the arrival of the third Aer Lingus aircraft to be based at Belfast International.

"This is the culmination of the initial £100 million Stg Aer Lingus investment at the airport and we look forward to working with the airline over the coming months to grow and develop these routes."