A major expansion by the low-cost airline EasyJet on all of its Belfast to London routes could potentially create 100 new aviation-related jobs in the North, Belfast International Airport (BIA) said on Tuesday.
The airline, which published details of its winter schedule earlier, plans to increase the number of seats for sale on its Gatwick, London Luton and Stansted routes by more than 125,000.
According to BIA this will bring the total number of seats to over 500,000 up to the end of February, 2016.
The airline has also announced plans to increase seat capacity on its Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester routes.
Graham Keddie, managing director, BIA, described EasyJet's decision to expand its services as a "development of enormous importance".
“Increasing the number of seats by close to a third will mean significant increases in airport activity. We are well equipped to handle such a tremendous increase which will bring benefits not only to South Antrim but Northern Ireland generally.
“This level of passenger traffic will generate real jobs in a sector that offers so much to the regional economy. In this instance alone, we will see upwards of 100 jobs created at the airport and in the supply chain,” Mr Keddie added.
He believes EasyJet’s decision to invest in Northern Ireland will deliver more choice for passengers and an economic boost for the region.
“These jobs won’t cost the taxpayer a penny. They will generate up to £2,500,000 in wages and salaries and that will be a welcome boost for retailers.
“This is a good day for the airport, but an even better one for the Northern Ireland economy,” Mr Keddie said.
