January 2025
www.nitravelnews.com
SECURITY PRESSURE EASED WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCED
...continued from Pg. 1 Page 20: Paul Wilson jets off
to Tunisia and showcases the country’s extensive history...
Page 30-31: Andrea McVeigh travels stateside to marvel at Cleveland...
Page 41-42: Robin Nowacki takes us on an asain adventure in
South Korea...
Page 56: Heidi McAlpin rounds off her family Carcation with a visit to the Cotswolds...
Being able to avail of its new ground floor exit hall, passengers are now able to access all ground transport and car parks via a new link corridor. Work will continue into 2025 to upgrade further parts of the terminal as part of Vinci’s £100m investment programme to transform the facilities and improve the passenger experience.
This record breaking year for Belfast International saw the busiest July period, with July 2024 seeing over 700,000 passengers jet off to 70 destinations (directly), with almost 6000 flights recorded during the peak school holiday period. The airport reported that the newfound popularity of Malta, Bodrum, Tunisia and Larnaca helped secure this. Data also taken during this period showed 90% of passengers waited less than 15 minutes to pass through security - showcasing the positive impact the £100m five-year investment has made for passengers and staff. Airlines such
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as
Jet2.com,easyJet and Ryanair showed commitment to the busy airport with multiple new routes added across its network - Jet2. com celebrated its 20th year at the airport and has welcomed 5 million passengers during this period of time. A testament to the airport and airline’s acknowledgment of travel agent work in the region and for the travelling members of the public from Northern Ireland.
2024 also saw the return of TUI’s long-haul option from the airport. From June 2025, TUI will take off to Cancun,Mexico, serving as the only direct flight from Belfast to Mexico. This addition completes a healthy list of new routes and connectivity for travellers from this region, creating opportunities for those, not only travelling from Northern Ireland, but increasing visitor numbers to the region with the prospect for layovers. Finalising 2024, Belfast International Airport has completed its £1m expansion and reconfiguration of the immigration arrivals area. This investment has allowed for captaincy to increase by 50% which will significantly increase the passenger experience with an improvement to processing times. Belfast International Airport has also confirmed it is in talks with airlines about potentially reopening regular transatlantic flights to North America- Regular flights to the US ended back in 2018.
Belfast City Airport has also welcomed financial investment in 2024 which has increased its facilities for passengers and strengthened airline routes. The airport invested £3m into brand-new security systems, in line with European laws to increase liquid allowance and electronic devices
within hand luggage. Despite
now being placed on hold due to different safety concerns, Belfast City Airport led the way for UK airports implementing the passenger-friendly changes by being one of the first to do so nationally. The new security technology has enabled passengers to keep liquids,gels and pastes,including toiletries and cosmetics, up to 100ml and large electronic devices in their cabin baggage as they complete security checks at the airport. In addition to security improvement, Belfast City Airport has heightened passenger experience through hospitality within the airport.
Introducing
Samson’s Kitchen and Bar to passengers, the airport created 30 jobs at the Northern Irish themed eatery. Partnering with TRG Concessions,
one
of the leading food and beverage operators in UK airports, Belfast City Airport has int roduced table service for the very first time.
Expansion to easyJet routes from Belfast City Airport for 2924 included Palma de Mallorca and Alicante, highlighting the popularity of these routes and the passenger trust in Belfast City Airport.
Expansion also
extended the KLM’s Amsterdam route, which has also been increased daily- This opens a gateway to the rest of the world with Schiphol airport, and KLM, having an expansive destination portfolio, along with code-sharing agreements with major airlines such as Air France. “Throughout 2024, Belfast City Airport has continued to play a vital role in connecting Northern Ireland to the UK,Europe and even further afield.” Highlighted Ellie McGimpsey, Aviation Development Manager at Belfast City Airport.
She continued, “Standout moments include KLM Royal Dutch Airlines increasing its service to Amsterdam with twice daily flights, doubling its capacity and providing passengers with additional connection opportunities and the ability to enjoy a day trip to The Netherlands. “Furthermore,
easyJet launched its
inaugural sunshine routes from Belfast City Airport to Alicante and Palma de Mallorca,
NI Travel News Celebrates 35th Anniversary!
‘FLYING HIGH FROM NI’ reads the headliane on the front page of this, the 345th edition of NI Travel News, as the publication celebrates it’s 35th anniversary.
Launched in January 1990 to coincide with the opening of the Holidayworld ’90 exhibition in the King’s Hall Belfast, Northern Ireland Travel News has
gone from strength to
strength over the years. This year NI Travel News is celebrating it’s 35th anniversary, and what an amazing 35 years in the travel
industry they have been! NI Travel itself has also evolved. As well as the original newspaper, NI Travel News is now available to read online and is available to pick up at Ground Espresso coffee shops across the Province. It also boasts twice weekly ezines to the Trade and Public and its new members
platform
which provides a wide range of the latest holiday offers to its members every week. 2025 will also mark the 33rd Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards, organised by
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underscoring its commitment to Belfast and providing passengers with even more options for their summer getaways. “There were also significant domestic developments that speak volumes about the strong demand for air connections to and from Belfast. “We are proud to be in a position to help meet this demand through our extensive route network and hub airport partners whilst still providing passengers with a hassle-free experience from the heart of Belfast. “As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited for what’s to come and remain focused on further strengthening our route network, building on our frequencies, and enhancing the airport experience for all passengers, solidifying our position as a leading regional airport.”
City of Derry Airport- Although small in comparison to fellow regional airports,
it
punches above its weight in terms of investment and
passenger enhancement. So much so, 2024 seen international passengers at City of Derry Airport triple. Taken from Summer 2023 to Summer
2024, figures indicate a new wave of global travellers using the Airport, with the top connecting destinations outlined as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, and the top connecting airlines shown as British Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways. Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, commented: “It’s wonderful to see travellers across the Northwest enjoying the benefits of flying local to an array of bucket-list destinations across Europe, the Middle East, North and South America,
Africa, Asia and Australasia. Read more on Pg. 4
BOOKIT,
NI Travel News while June 2025 marks the fifteenth anniversary of The BIG Travel Trade Event.
This year will also mark the seventh anniversary of the On Tour Roadshows.
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