A NEW low-cost transatlantic airline is being launched at Belfast International Airport.
Fly Atlantic plans to be operational by the summer of 2024, offering direct flights to the US and Canada.
The start-up carrier, which is the brainchild of industry veteran Andrew Pyne, plans to launch with six aircraft based at Aldergrove.
But the ambitious project could eventually see 18 jets in its fleet by 2028, flying directly to 35 European, North American and even Middle Eastern destinations, potentially creating 1,000 jobs.
The company claims up to 21,000 jobs could ultimately be supported indirectly in the supply chain and wider tourism sector.
The last airline to operate a regular transatlantic service at the airport, was United, which pulled out in late 2016.
Mr Pyne said the start-up is still negotiating capital with potential investors, but said a number of Boeing 737 MAX or Airbus A321 aircraft will be available under lease to his the airline.
“Our vision is of Belfast as a strong aviation hub linking Europe and North America. The lack of direct transatlantic air services has clearly been an impediment to Northern Ireland’s economic and tourism development, which we now intend to remove.
“The project can be a game changer,” he continued. “We will be offering affordable fares with brand new aircraft.
“We already have offices at the airport and will now be building out the infrastructure to support the airline’s launch. We start recruiting for the team early in 2023.”
The aviation veteran has been involved with a number of airline start-ups around the world and was a strategic adviser to Icelandic carrier WOW Air, which ceased operating in 2019.
Mr Pyne described Fly Atlantic as a “slightly tweaked” version of the low cost Icelandic carrier, but said WOW did not have access to the new generation of narrow body aircraft capable of non-stop transatlantic flights.
He believes the current market conditions will favour a value model.
“In some ways, it’s perfect timing to launch a low cost airline of this sort,” said the founder
“We’re looking to make Belfast a true aviation hub for the first time. Northern Ireland has never had its own airline, Belfast has never been a true hub.
“A key part of Fly Atlantic is feeding traffic from the rest of the UK, from the rest of Ireland, from continental Europe and even from the near east, moving it into the hub and onto North America.
“A big chunk of the market will be from outside the island of Ireland, from other points in Europe.”
On the question of capacity and facilities at Aldergrove, Mr Pyne said his team had looked at a number of potential airports around Britain and the island of Ireland.
“We were looking at existing capacity, future capacity, commitment to invest and also of course, commercial terms and conditions.
“Belfast International already has plans to invest. The current airport does need some upgrading to cope even with our year one planned operations.
“We’ve been talking to the airport about how that can be done.”
Belfast International Airport was acquired by the French infrastructure group Vinci in 2018. Last year the airport secured planning approval for a £15 million upgrade.
However, work has yet to get under way, with the airport suffering heavy losses during the pandemic. It recorded a pre-tax loss of £12.7 million in the first year of Covid-19, and despite more than £5m of government support last year, took a t pre-tax loss of £1.2m.
“The airport experience is an important part of the whole mix in terms of attracting people through Belfast,” said Mr Pyne.
“The transit element of our business plan has to work smoothly and efficiently from day one. It has to be something that’s there and functioning at the beginning.
“We have been working with the airport and will continue to work with the airport intensively to get that right.
“And we are confident that as we prove a successful model and bring more aircraft into the fleet and more passengers to the airport, the airport in turn will be putting more investment into the infrastructure.”
The airport’s managing director, Graham Keddie, said: “We welcome the announcement by Fly Atlantic and look forward to them bringing this project to fruition as it would have very real economic benefits for Northern Ireland’s economy and would further enhance our international connectivity”.
A NEW low-cost transatlantic airline is being launched at Belfast International Airport.
Fly Atlantic plans to be operational by the summer of 2024, offering direct flights to the US and Canada.
The start-up carrier, which is the brainchild of industry veteran Andrew Pyne, plans to launch with six aircraft based at Aldergrove.
But the ambitious project could eventually see 18 jets in its fleet by 2028, flying directly to 35 European, North American and even Middle Eastern destinations, potentially creating 1,000 jobs.
The company claims up to 21,000 jobs could ultimately be supported indirectly in the supply chain and wider tourism sector.
The last airline to operate a regular transatlantic service at the airport, was United, which pulled out in late 2016.
Mr Pyne said the start-up is still negotiating capital with potential investors, but said a number of Boeing 737 MAX or Airbus A321 aircraft will be available under lease to his the airline.
“Our vision is of Belfast as a strong aviation hub linking Europe and North America. The lack of direct transatlantic air services has clearly been an impediment to Northern Ireland’s economic and tourism development, which we now intend to remove.
“The project can be a game changer,” he continued. “We will be offering affordable fares with brand new aircraft.
“We already have offices at the airport and will now be building out the infrastructure to support the airline’s launch. We start recruiting for the team early in 2023.”
The aviation veteran has been involved with a number of airline start-ups around the world and was a strategic adviser to Icelandic carrier WOW Air, which ceased operating in 2019.
Mr Pyne described Fly Atlantic as a “slightly tweaked” version of the low cost Icelandic carrier, but said WOW did not have access to the new generation of narrow body aircraft capable of non-stop transatlantic flights.
He believes the current market conditions will favour a value model.
“In some ways, it’s perfect timing to launch a low cost airline of this sort,” said the founder
“We’re looking to make Belfast a true aviation hub for the first time. Northern Ireland has never had its own airline, Belfast has never been a true hub.
“A key part of Fly Atlantic is feeding traffic from the rest of the UK, from the rest of Ireland, from continental Europe and even from the near east, moving it into the hub and onto North America.
“A big chunk of the market will be from outside the island of Ireland, from other points in Europe.”
On the question of capacity and facilities at Aldergrove, Mr Pyne said his team had looked at a number of potential airports around Britain and the island of Ireland.
“We were looking at existing capacity, future capacity, commitment to invest and also of course, commercial terms and conditions.
“Belfast International already has plans to invest. The current airport does need some upgrading to cope even with our year one planned operations.
“We’ve been talking to the airport about how that can be done.”
Belfast International Airport was acquired by the French infrastructure group Vinci in 2018. Last year the airport secured planning approval for a £15 million upgrade.
However, work has yet to get under way, with the airport suffering heavy losses during the pandemic. It recorded a pre-tax loss of £12.7 million in the first year of Covid-19, and despite more than £5m of government support last year, took a t pre-tax loss of £1.2m.
“The airport experience is an important part of the whole mix in terms of attracting people through Belfast,” said Mr Pyne.
“The transit element of our business plan has to work smoothly and efficiently from day one. It has to be something that’s there and functioning at the beginning.
“We have been working with the airport and will continue to work with the airport intensively to get that right.
“And we are confident that as we prove a successful model and bring more aircraft into the fleet and more passengers to the airport, the airport in turn will be putting more investment into the infrastructure.”
The airport’s managing director, Graham Keddie, said: “We welcome the announcement by Fly Atlantic and look forward to them bringing this project to fruition as it would have very real economic benefits for Northern Ireland’s economy and would further enhance our international connectivity”.
A NEW low-cost transatlantic airline is being launched at Belfast International Airport.
Fly Atlantic plans to be operational by the summer of 2024, offering direct flights to the US and Canada.
The start-up carrier, which is the brainchild of industry veteran Andrew Pyne, plans to launch with six aircraft based at Aldergrove.
But the ambitious project could eventually see 18 jets in its fleet by 2028, flying directly to 35 European, North American and even Middle Eastern destinations, potentially creating 1,000 jobs.
The company claims up to 21,000 jobs could ultimately be supported indirectly in the supply chain and wider tourism sector.
The last airline to operate a regular transatlantic service at the airport, was United, which pulled out in late 2016.
Mr Pyne said the start-up is still negotiating capital with potential investors, but said a number of Boeing 737 MAX or Airbus A321 aircraft will be available under lease to his the airline.
“Our vision is of Belfast as a strong aviation hub linking Europe and North America. The lack of direct transatlantic air services has clearly been an impediment to Northern Ireland’s economic and tourism development, which we now intend to remove.
“The project can be a game changer,” he continued. “We will be offering affordable fares with brand new aircraft.
“We already have offices at the airport and will now be building out the infrastructure to support the airline’s launch. We start recruiting for the team early in 2023.”
The aviation veteran has been involved with a number of airline start-ups around the world and was a strategic adviser to Icelandic carrier WOW Air, which ceased operating in 2019.
Mr Pyne described Fly Atlantic as a “slightly tweaked” version of the low cost Icelandic carrier, but said WOW did not have access to the new generation of narrow body aircraft capable of non-stop transatlantic flights.
He believes the current market conditions will favour a value model.
“In some ways, it’s perfect timing to launch a low cost airline of this sort,” said the founder
“We’re looking to make Belfast a true aviation hub for the first time. Northern Ireland has never had its own airline, Belfast has never been a true hub.
“A key part of Fly Atlantic is feeding traffic from the rest of the UK, from the rest of Ireland, from continental Europe and even from the near east, moving it into the hub and onto North America.
“A big chunk of the market will be from outside the island of Ireland, from other points in Europe.”
On the question of capacity and facilities at Aldergrove, Mr Pyne said his team had looked at a number of potential airports around Britain and the island of Ireland.
“We were looking at existing capacity, future capacity, commitment to invest and also of course, commercial terms and conditions.
“Belfast International already has plans to invest. The current airport does need some upgrading to cope even with our year one planned operations.
“We’ve been talking to the airport about how that can be done.”
Belfast International Airport was acquired by the French infrastructure group Vinci in 2018. Last year the airport secured planning approval for a £15 million upgrade.
However, work has yet to get under way, with the airport suffering heavy losses during the pandemic. It recorded a pre-tax loss of £12.7 million in the first year of Covid-19, and despite more than £5m of government support last year, took a t pre-tax loss of £1.2m.
“The airport experience is an important part of the whole mix in terms of attracting people through Belfast,” said Mr Pyne.
“The transit element of our business plan has to work smoothly and efficiently from day one. It has to be something that’s there and functioning at the beginning.
“We have been working with the airport and will continue to work with the airport intensively to get that right.
“And we are confident that as we prove a successful model and bring more aircraft into the fleet and more passengers to the airport, the airport in turn will be putting more investment into the infrastructure.”
The airport’s managing director, Graham Keddie, said: “We welcome the announcement by Fly Atlantic and look forward to them bringing this project to fruition as it would have very real economic benefits for Northern Ireland’s economy and would further enhance our international connectivity”.
A NEW low-cost transatlantic airline is being launched at Belfast International Airport.
Fly Atlantic plans to be operational by the summer of 2024, offering direct flights to the US and Canada.
The start-up carrier, which is the brainchild of industry veteran Andrew Pyne, plans to launch with six aircraft based at Aldergrove.
But the ambitious project could eventually see 18 jets in its fleet by 2028, flying directly to 35 European, North American and even Middle Eastern destinations, potentially creating 1,000 jobs.
The company claims up to 21,000 jobs could ultimately be supported indirectly in the supply chain and wider tourism sector.
The last airline to operate a regular transatlantic service at the airport, was United, which pulled out in late 2016.
Mr Pyne said the start-up is still negotiating capital with potential investors, but said a number of Boeing 737 MAX or Airbus A321 aircraft will be available under lease to his the airline.
“Our vision is of Belfast as a strong aviation hub linking Europe and North America. The lack of direct transatlantic air services has clearly been an impediment to Northern Ireland’s economic and tourism development, which we now intend to remove.
“The project can be a game changer,” he continued. “We will be offering affordable fares with brand new aircraft.
“We already have offices at the airport and will now be building out the infrastructure to support the airline’s launch. We start recruiting for the team early in 2023.”
The aviation veteran has been involved with a number of airline start-ups around the world and was a strategic adviser to Icelandic carrier WOW Air, which ceased operating in 2019.
Mr Pyne described Fly Atlantic as a “slightly tweaked” version of the low cost Icelandic carrier, but said WOW did not have access to the new generation of narrow body aircraft capable of non-stop transatlantic flights.
He believes the current market conditions will favour a value model.
“In some ways, it’s perfect timing to launch a low cost airline of this sort,” said the founder
“We’re looking to make Belfast a true aviation hub for the first time. Northern Ireland has never had its own airline, Belfast has never been a true hub.
“A key part of Fly Atlantic is feeding traffic from the rest of the UK, from the rest of Ireland, from continental Europe and even from the near east, moving it into the hub and onto North America.
“A big chunk of the market will be from outside the island of Ireland, from other points in Europe.”
On the question of capacity and facilities at Aldergrove, Mr Pyne said his team had looked at a number of potential airports around Britain and the island of Ireland.
“We were looking at existing capacity, future capacity, commitment to invest and also of course, commercial terms and conditions.
“Belfast International already has plans to invest. The current airport does need some upgrading to cope even with our year one planned operations.
“We’ve been talking to the airport about how that can be done.”
Belfast International Airport was acquired by the French infrastructure group Vinci in 2018. Last year the airport secured planning approval for a £15 million upgrade.
However, work has yet to get under way, with the airport suffering heavy losses during the pandemic. It recorded a pre-tax loss of £12.7 million in the first year of Covid-19, and despite more than £5m of government support last year, took a t pre-tax loss of £1.2m.
“The airport experience is an important part of the whole mix in terms of attracting people through Belfast,” said Mr Pyne.
“The transit element of our business plan has to work smoothly and efficiently from day one. It has to be something that’s there and functioning at the beginning.
“We have been working with the airport and will continue to work with the airport intensively to get that right.
“And we are confident that as we prove a successful model and bring more aircraft into the fleet and more passengers to the airport, the airport in turn will be putting more investment into the infrastructure.”
The airport’s managing director, Graham Keddie, said: “We welcome the announcement by Fly Atlantic and look forward to them bringing this project to fruition as it would have very real economic benefits for Northern Ireland’s economy and would further enhance our international connectivity”.