Following the collapse of flybe over the weekend, Aer Lingus Regional is reaffirming their commitment to safeguard connectivity between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The carrier is increasing capacity from Belfast City Airport with 15,000 additional seats.
On Monday (January 30, 2023), Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional network, announced that they will increase capacity from Belfast City Airport with 15,000 additional seats available immediately. The announcement follows the collapse of regional carrier flybe on Saturday, January 28th, with the airline entering administration and ceasing operations. With the added capacity, Aer Lingus Regional is safeguarding essential connectivity between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, with added capacity from Belfast City to popular destinations such as Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Glasgow.
In Monday’s announcement, Emerald Airlines’ Executive Chairman, Conor McCarthy, said,
“We are developing and executing a comprehensive plan to ensure the continuation of reliable, cost-effective and sustainable air travel from Belfast City Airport. Emerald Airlines are stepping up, safeguarding connectivity between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as we have done for the past 12 months. We are also eager to recruit former flybe crew members to join our wonderful team at Belfast and will be actively engaged in interviewing candidates over the next week. We know how distressing this situation must be for all concerned, and our hearts go out to those who have lost their jobs over the weekend.”
Additionally, Emerald Airlines has today launched a flash sale, with up to 30 percent off all flights across the Aer Lingus Regional network. The sale will be in effect until midnight on Thursday, February 2, 2023, for travel from February 1st through March 31, 2023. For industry colleagues who have been impacted by flybe’s administration announcement, Emerald Airlines will be holding open interviews this Thursday and Friday (February 2-3) at the Maldron Hotel in Belfast. Openings include Belfast City Airport-based Direct Entry Captains, Co-Pilots and Cabin Crew.
Dublin-based Emerald Airlines is the exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional route network. The airline offers a range of solutions including, franchise, wet-lease and private charter flying. Emerald Airlines’ dedicated team of aviation specialists provide customers with customized fleet solutions. Emerald Airlines currently operates Aer Lingus Regional flights from both Dublin and Belfast City airports with over 540 weekly flights on 20 routes to and from 16 airports including Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Isle of Man, Newquay and others. By summer 2023, the carrier will operate over 580 weekly flights across 25 routes.
Source: Emerald Airlines