The airline group Air France-KLM has announced plans to launch to its first service between Belfast and Amsterdam.
The airline will provide a daily service between George Best Belfast City Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from this May.
The North's Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster believes the airline's decision to add Belfast City Airport to its global network should deliver benefits for the local economy.
“KLM is a welcome addition to the growing list of air carriers now serving Northern Ireland,” Ms Foster said. “KLM’s Amsterdam service will improve Northern Ireland’s access to important business and tourism markets in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
“Air connectivity plays a crucial role in growing our economy and the access to a KLM service will provide global markets with help to ensure that Northern Ireland becomes even more accessible for those who wish to visit or do business here.”
Local business
Katy Best, commercial and marketing director of the airport, described KLM's new service as "a major win for the airport, tourism within the region and local businesses".
Ms Best added: "With imports of goods from the Netherlands increasing in recent years and the country being one of the largest export markets in the EU for Northern Ireland manufacturers, this route ensures daily connectivity with major export and business markets identified by Invest Northern Ireland.
“KLM’s connectivity to many source markets will be particularly appealing to Northern Ireland for both business opportunities and tourism development.”
Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, also believes the KLM announcement should help grow visitor numbers from the Netherlands and create connectivity from other important tourism markets.
