Ryanair has announced seven new routes from its hub at Belfast International airport including flights to Berlin and Milan.
The new flights are part of its expanded winter schedule from Northern Ireland, which also includes extra daily flights to Gatwick. Ryanair said this will deliver more than one million passengers a year from Belfast.
The no-frills carrier will operate a three-times weekly service to Berlin and two-times weekly service to Milan. There are also new leisure routes to Malaga, Lanzarote, Krakow, Alicante and Tenerife.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary made the announcement in Belfast earlier today where he also renewed his backing for the UK to stay in the EU.
“This large inward investment (over $300 million) and new job creation is the latest example of how Northern Ireland benefits from the UK’s membership of the European Union.
“Low fare air travel, which was pioneered by Ryanair in the UK and Europe, is one of the EU’s great success stories.
“We are calling on everyone in Northern Ireland to vote ‘Yes’ to Europe in the Brexit referendum in June, because staying in Europe will mean stronger economic growth, more tourism and more jobs for young people, whereas leaving will reduce the UK to the same status as Norway – namely outside the EU, but part of the single market (for which Norway still pays and still obeys the EU rules), but with no role in setting EU policy or strategy.”