Belfast a Destination for European Tourists
Low Cost Flights Make City a Viable Short Break Venue
May 9, 2009
During the summer of 2009 scheduled flights will operate to Belfast International and George Best Belfast City Airports from a total of seven European countries offering tourists the chance to enjoy a weekend or midweek break in Northern Ireland's capital.
Five Iberian Airports Offer Flights to Belfast
Tourists from the Iberian Peninsula have five departure airports to choose from with flights operated to Belfast International by three airlines
- Alicante–easyJet
- Barcelona–Aer Lingus and easyJet
- Faro–Aer Lingus and easyJet
- Malaga–Aer Lingus and easyJet
- Murcia–Jet2
Flights to Belfast from Italy
Italian tourists can fly to Belfast from
- Milan–Aer Lingus
- Pisa–Jet2
- Rome–Aer Lingus
Four French Airports Offer Flights to Belfast
- Nice–easyJet
- Paris Charles de Gaulle–Aer Lingus and easyJet
- Toulouse–Jet2
- Rennes–Flybe
The flights from Rennes land at George Best Belfast City Airport where Flybe is the largest operator.
Other European airports with direct flights to Belfast International this summer are
- Amsterdam–easyJet
- Dubrovnik–Jet2
- Geneva–easyJet
- Ibiza–easyJet and Jet2
- Krakow–easyJet
- Lanzarote–Aer Lingus
- Mahon, Menorca–Jet2
- Palma de Mallorca–easyJet and Jet2
- Tenerife–Jet2
Flights to Belfast From Europe Available in Winter
The number of direct flights from Europe to Belfast International will drop at the end of the summer timetables but services will continue to operate from Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands, France and Holland.
Winter 2009/2010 will also see the addition of flights from Prague by bmibaby while Aer Lingus will introduce scheduled flights from Tenerife.
Flights From Europe to Belfast Operated by Low Cost Airlines
All of these flights from Europe are the return sectors of services operated by easyJet, bmibaby, Jet2, Aer Lingus and Flybe.
These airlines are low cost carriers or operate to a low cost business model.
This means passengers pay for refreshments on board the aircraft. They also pay for checked-in baggage.
Jet2, Aer Lingus, bmibaby and Flybe charge passengers for selecting their seats online prior to airport check-in. More is charged for seats with greater legroom such as those in row one and those positioned at overwing emergency exits.
easyJet which does not have pre-assigned seating invites passengers to pay extra for 'speedy boarding'. This entitles them to board the aircraft first thereby enjoying the greatest choice of seats.
Passengers Travel into City Centre on Ulsterbus Service 300 or Metro Service 600
Passengers landing at Belfast International can travel into the city centre on Ulsterbus Express Service 300 which operates every 10 minutes at busy times. Flybe passengers arriving at George Best Belfast City from Rennes can travel to the Europa Buscentre in Great Victoria Street on Metro Bus Service 600.
Click here to see further details of air services to Belfast.
Timetables are available on individual airline websites where bookings can also be made.
People from Europe wishing to travel to Northern Ireland's capital city who do not live near an airport offering a direct service to Belfast may be able to book a low cost flight to Dublin.
Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus operate an extensive European network from Ireland's busiest airport which is linked with Belfast by Ulsterbus coach service 200 and Aircoach.
Alternatively, tourists can reach Northern Ireland by connecting with a flight to Belfast at a major UK airport such as Manchester, Heathrow or Gatwick.
 |
 |
 |
