AER Lingus Regional operator Emerald Airlines is set to ramp up activity at Belfast City Airport following the collapse of Flybe at the weekend.
The carrier, which currently operates nine routes from its base in Belfast, is launching new services to East Midlands and Newcastle in March and April.
The English airports were the only two destinations left unserved from Belfast following Flybe’s latest failure on Saturday.
Flybe had operated ten routes in total from Belfast prior to its demise. Emerald Airlines, British Airways and KLM had directly competed with the failed carrier on eight of the routes.
Emerald is due to commence flights to Nottingham East Midlands on March 26, with its Newcastle service starting on April 28.
It’s also due to launch summer services to Jersey and Newquay.
Welcoming the announcement, Belfast City Airport’s commercial director Katy Best, said: “Following the collapse of Flybe, East Midlands and Newcastle were the airline’s only destinations not served by other carriers from Belfast City Airport.
“Having Emerald Airlines step-up and operate the Aer Lingus Regional services on both routes, in addition to its already extensive network from Belfast City, is therefore excellent news as it leaves no Flybe destination unserved.
“Maintaining a robust route network and ensuring connectivity to and from Northern Ireland remains our priority, and we look forward to continuing and developing our successful partnership with Emerald Airlines.”
Emerald Airlines (Aer Lingus Regional) look set to take on both the East Midlands and Newcastle routes from Belfast City Airport, vacated by Flybe's collapse. They were the only 2 of Flybe's 10 Belfast routes left unserved when the carrier folded again at the weekend. https://t.co/JLWnDtgjtq
— Ryan McAleer (@RyanMcAleerbiz) February 2, 2023
Emerald Airlines currently operates flights to Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, and Southampton from Belfast.
Meanwhile, Emerald Airlines is holding open interviews in Belfast’s Maldron Hotel over February 2-3, with former Flybe staff encouraged to attend. Roles available include entry captains, co-pilots, and cabin crew.
