Northern Ireland News

NATS launches hub and spoke system at Belfast airports
NATS has successfully transitioned Belfast International and Belfast City airports from paper to electronic flight strips following a ten-month programme using new hub and spoke system architecture.

NATS signs air traffic control deal with Belfast International
NATS has signed a nine-year contract with Belfast International Airport for the provision of air traffic control and engineering services. NATS and Belfast International have worked together for many years but this contract signals the start of a strategic partnership, which will ensure the continued future success of air traffic control and engineering services at the airport.

Ryanair launches new route from Belfast to Malta
Ryanair has launched a new route from Belfast to Malta, with a twice weekly service beginning in October, as part of its winter 2017 schedule.
Titanic Belfast crowned World’s Leading Tourist Attraction by World Travel Awards
Titanic Belfast has been crowned World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the prestigious World Travel Awards in the Maldives. Having already beaten the Colosseum, the Acropolis and the Eiffel Tower to become Europe’s official Leading Tourist Attraction, Titanic Belfast sailed its way to victory to become the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction, bringing the award back to UK after ten years.

World Travel Market 2016: Ballygally Castle welcomes Game of Thrones fans to Northern Ireland
Fans of the hit TV series Game of Thrones can follow in the footsteps of the show’s characters and actors at Ballygally Castle, Northern Ireland. Part of the Hastings Hotels group, the hotel features a Game of Thrones Afternoon Tea, Valyrian Steel Style Carving Knives, and a special door which was part of Tourism Ireland’s recent Game of Thrones campaign.

Belfast International Airport hit by delays
Passengers are experiencing delays at Belfast International Airport after a freight plane got stuck on the runway. Officials closed the runway for a short time before reopening it at for arrivals at 09:00 BST. However, knock-on delays are expected.

Hastings Hotels launches autumnal day spa experiences in Northern Ireland
Hastings Hotels has introduce a new Autumn Warmth & Wellness Day Spa Experience at two of its properties in Northern Ireland. Both the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa and the five-star Culloden Estate & Spa will offer the treatment until November 30th.

Virgin Atlantic launches summer flights from Belfast to Orlando
Virgin Atlantic is celebrating the first of its new summer flights between Belfast and Orlando and has also confirmed the return of the route for next year. The weekly service from Northern Ireland to the Sunshine State will continue for four weeks this summer.

KLM launches new route into George Best Belfast City Airport
KLM began its new daily flight service from George Best Belfast City Airport earlier, marking the airline’s 17 departure point in the UK and Ireland. The route offers Belfast passengers convenient access to KLM’s worldwide network of over 200 destinations, in more than 100 countries, via the award-winning Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Routes Europe to return to UK with Belfast event in 2017
Routes Europe will return to the United Kingdom in 2017 when the 12th annual event takes place on April 23rd-25th 2017 in Belfast at the Waterfront Conference Centre. The venue is expected to complete its state of the art £30 million extension in the summer of 2016 ahead of the event. Routes Europe, which is the largest regional Routes event, will be hosted by Invest Northern Ireland and Visit Belfast and supported by a wide range of stakeholders including; Tourism Northern Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Belfast City Council, Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport.

KLM flies into George Best airport in Belfast
One of Europe’s largest airline groups, Air France KLM, is to commence operations from Northern Ireland. George Best Belfast City Airport is the only airport in the UK or Ireland included in expansion plans announced today by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines who will commence a daily service to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from May 2015.

Air Passenger Duty cut for Northern Ireland
Air Passenger Duty on direct long-haul routes from Northern Ireland airports is to be cut. The direct long-haul rate of APD will fall to the lower short-haul rate - £12 per passenger in economy and £24 for business and first class passengers, chancellor George Osborne confirmed earlier.