Skip to main contentAccess keys help

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Friday, 6 February, 2004, 16:14 GMT
NI flights to Prague launched
The service will operate four days a week from Aldergrove
The low cost airline Jet2 has confirmed that from the end of April it will offer a service from Belfast to Prague.

Flights will cost from �29 each way including tax.

The airline, which is based in Leeds, says it hopes to increase the service from four flights a week to a daily flight if it proves successful.

Jet2's chief executive, Philip Meeson, said they chose Prague because of its popularity as a tourist destination.

Last month, a locally owned scheduled airline announced it would begin a twice daily service from Belfast to Brussels.

We will be consulting the people of the region to find out exactly where they want to fly
Philip Meeson
Jet2 chief executive

The first scheduled Primeflight service will be a non-stop service to Brussels National Airport, starting on 1 March, with further European destinations planned for later in the year.

The only other European destination served by Northern Ireland flights is Amsterdam, where the low cost airline easyJet operates daily flights.

Jet2 has suggested it may operate routes from Belfast and easyJet is understood to be in discussions with the airport about opening services to Paris.

Operating from Belfast International Airport, the company only entered the Northern Ireland market last November when it introduced daily flights to Leeds Bradford.

Speaking at a news conference at Aldergrove on Friday, Mr Meeson said the success of the Leeds Bradford service had led to the company offering a second destination.

"The Belfast Leeds service has been hugely popular and we have received a tremendous amount of support and positive feedback from the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

'Major boost'

"The most common question asked is `Where are you flying next?'."

He added that Prague had been one of the most frequently requested destinations from both passengers and the travel trade.

"We look forward to growing our network and in so doing we will be consulting the people of the region to find out exactly where they want to fly."

Paul O'Toole, chief executive of Tourism Ireland welcomed the announcement as "a major boost for the tourism industry in Northern Ireland".

He said he would be working with the company to maximise the number of Czech visitors to the province.

Uel Hoey, business development director at Aldergrove, said the airport was fully committed to providing Northern Ireland business and leisure travellers with an even greater choice of European destinations.

"We look forward to developing our relationship with Jet2 to provide the Northern Ireland public with even greater opportunity to travel at affordable prices as well as hugely increasing the options for inbound tourism and business to Northern Ireland," he said.


SEE ALSO:
NI airline is launched
26 Jan 04  |  Northern Ireland
Late night Belfast flights plan
16 Dec 03  |  Northern Ireland
Talks to decide air subsidies
23 Oct 03  |  Northern Ireland


RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia
UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health
Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes
AmericasAfricaEuropeMiddle EastSouth AsiaAsia Pacific