The decision of the UK government to reform and lower Air Passenger Duty (APD), a tax airlines pay to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for each occupied seat when a flight takes off from a UK airport, on its domestic band by 50% effective from 1st April 2023. The standard rate of £13 to reduced rate £6.50 per sector, has positively increased connectivity from Northern Ireland as airlines seize the opportunities presented to boost frequencies on existing routes and add new domestic city pairs.
To coincide with introduction of the lower APD Tax Tourism Ireland has launched a £4 million, multi-media promotional campaign titled ‘Embrace a Giant Spirit / Green Button’ to boost travel from UK to Northern Ireland over the coming months. The campaign will be seen by an estimated 8.6 million people and will generate demand and drive bookings for short breaks and holidays in Northern Ireland.
According to research released by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). The report titled ‘Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders’ stated “Countries need connectivity to fully participate in the worldwide economy, encouraging higher productivity, investment and innovation. Connectivity helps businesses operate efficiently and attract high quality employees”.
The report stated aviation jobs are, on average, 4.4 times more productive than other jobs in the economy, stated for every 1 million passengers 1,000 jobs are created directly and indirectly in wider economy.
InterVISTAS research established a relationship between the connectivity of a country and its GDP per capita. It was found that a 10% increase in a country’s air connectivity is associated with a 0.5% increase in that country’s GDP per capita.
British Airways will operate from Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow up to seven times daily and London City Airport up to four times daily from 26th March.
Easyjet launched new seasonal routes from Belfast City Airport to Bristol and Glasgow operating till 31 March it remains to be seen if they will be extended on year round basis.
Eastern Airways launch a new daily service from Belfast International to Southampton.
Emerald Airlines, largest operator out of Belfast City Airport and exclusive operator of the Aer Lingus Regional network, announced four new services to Jersey, Newquay, Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands from Belfast City, following Flybe ceasing operations at Belfast City and will add 180,000+ extra seats this Summer from Belfast City across its route network.
Ryanair is reopening its Belfast International Airport base with two based Boeing 737-800 aircraft operating 12 routes on over 115 weekly flights including domestic routes to Cardiff, East-Midlands, Edinburgh, London-Stansted and Manchester.
The City of Derry Managing Director Steve Frazer in a recently Journal interview revealed he wants to see new routes to Newcastle and Birmingham in the medium term, as Loganair announced plans to terminate Edinburgh route and increase Glasgow to a daily service for Summer 2023. Ryanair is increasing frequency from Manchester to City of Derry from three to four times weekly.
Image Credit: Discover Northern Ireland
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 12 February 2023 All Rights Reserved
