Ministers ask government to secure NI flight routes

Some MPs have asked the government to make sure that air links to and from Northern Ireland stay in place.

Travel Insurance News - 21/06/2012

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Some MPs have asked the government to make sure that air links to and from Northern Ireland stay in place.

The plea comes in the wake of the takeover of BMI by British Airways’ parent firm IAG, which has prompted many to fear that links between Belfast and key British airports will vanish.

DUP MP David Simpson said in Westminster on Wednesday that it was critical that BA keeps BMI’s current Belfast operations in place, noting to Transport Minister Theresa Villiers that it was possible that BA would opt to pull out of the route as it had done so a decade ago. He said that Northern Ireland hoped that the government would utilise “every influence” to make sure that BA stays.

British Airways axed its route between Belfast and Heathrow in 2001, costing some 160 jobs, according to a BBC report.

Earlier, transport secretary Theresa Villiers said to the Northern Ireland Affairs committee that negotiations between BA and the government had already taken place and that ministers were ensured that the route was secure. However, she said that BA could not be "directed" by the government.

Concerns were also raised regarding the future of Belfast International airport, where BMI’s Northern Ireland operations are based, with many ministers saying that keeping both airports operation is critical for the local economy.

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