The UK government has promised to “safeguard” vital air
transport links between Britain and Northern Ireland through a £5.7 million
investment in services.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday the funding
will ensure “lifeline services” can be maintained, protecting busy passenger
routes from London to Derry-Londonderry and from Belfast to London.
With the extra funding, Aer Lingus will maintain the Belfast
to London route, which to government said would be at risk without financial
assistance, while Belfast City will provide airport services for the flights.
There will also be increased subsidies to Loganair and City of Derry airport to
continue operating the route between London and Derry-Londonderry, which it
took over following the collapse of Flybmi last year.
The new package for the air routes comes after the
government announced £17 million to support ferry services to Northern Ireland
from across the UK.
Shapps commented: “Maintaining air links between Great
Britain and Northern Ireland is vital. We must ensure that critical workers can
continue to fly over the Irish Sea, and today’s investment in these lifeline
services guarantees that.”