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| Aer Lingus to switch to George Best Belfast City Airport | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Jim Fitzpatrick BBC NI economics and business editor | By Jim Fitzpatrick BBC NI economics and business editor |
| Aer Lingus is planning to switch its operations from Belfast International Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport, the BBC understands. | Aer Lingus is planning to switch its operations from Belfast International Airport to George Best Belfast City Airport, the BBC understands. |
| Aer Lingus flies to Heathrow and seven European destinations from Belfast International Airport. | Aer Lingus flies to Heathrow and seven European destinations from Belfast International Airport. |
| It is understood flights could be moved to Belfast City within weeks and that a formal announcement may come in days. | It is understood flights could be moved to Belfast City within weeks and that a formal announcement may come in days. |
| The move follows the loss of BMI Baby from the City Airport - which carried 400,000 passengers a year. | The move follows the loss of BMI Baby from the City Airport - which carried 400,000 passengers a year. |
| It is thought Aer Lingus may choose to expand routes to UK regional airports, filling some of the lost BMI Baby capacity and putting it head-to-head with City Airport stalwart, Flybe. | It is thought Aer Lingus may choose to expand routes to UK regional airports, filling some of the lost BMI Baby capacity and putting it head-to-head with City Airport stalwart, Flybe. |
| Neither airport would comment at this stage. | Neither airport would comment at this stage. |
| Confirmation from the airline may follow a board meeting next week. | Confirmation from the airline may follow a board meeting next week. |
| The move will also make George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast's only Heathrow connection. | The move will also make George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast's only Heathrow connection. |
| With the takeover of BMI by British Airways there had been concerns over that route. | With the takeover of BMI by British Airways there had been concerns over that route. |
| BA has confirmed its commitment to the route but there remains speculation that there may be long-term plans for both airlines to work together on the Belfast-Heathrow connection. | BA has confirmed its commitment to the route but there remains speculation that there may be long-term plans for both airlines to work together on the Belfast-Heathrow connection. |
| Aer Lingus currently operates flights to Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, London Heathrow, Malaga and Tenerife. | Aer Lingus currently operates flights to Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, London Heathrow, Malaga and Tenerife. |