CONTINENTAL AIRLINES is to launch daily non-stop flights between Belfast International Airport and New York/Newark from next May.
The news comes a month after a similar announcement of a new service between Bristol and Newark, also starting in May. The new Belfast service will be the only year-round scheduled non-stop transatlantic service from Northern Ireland and the first non-stop scheduled service ever to operate from NI to the US.
Officials pointed out it means easier and faster travel options for travellers between the two points and will negate the need to interline through Heathrow. It also reinforces Belfast International”s position as the only international gateway to Northern Ireland, and an alternative access point for the entire island of Ireland, creating additional inbound business and tourism opportunities.
Belfast International Airport managing director Albert Harrison said the new flights would cut travel times to and from New York by around four to five hours. The existing Continental Airlines route network from Newark would offer Northern Ireland travellers access to 170 destinations throughout the Americas, the vast majority of which could not currently be accessed directly via any UK hub.
Continental will operate the flights with the 172-seat Boeing 757 with 16 seats in the BusinessFirst cabin and 156 in Economy. It said it would adjust frequency next winter to four flights per week to take account of seasonal decline in demand, reverting to a daily service in spring 2006. The Belfast flights are timed to connect at New York/Newark with services throughout the US, Canada and Latin America, offering Northern Ireland travellers same-carrier travel throughout the Americas for the first time.
http://www.continental.com