Stars and Stripes welcome for new US flight
HOLIDAYMAKERS from the United States celebrated Independence Day as they arrived on Belfast International Airport’s first new transatlantic flights to Northern Ireland.
The Norwegian Airlines flights from Providence in Rhode Island and Stewart International in upstate New York, which landed for the first time yesterday morning, made headlines in February when it was announced tickets would sell from just £69.
The routes come after the United Airlines service from Belfast to Newark ended in January.
However, airport boss Graham Keddie said he expected even more US flights could be announced as talks continue with at least two other carriers.
“We knew we had the market there and I think there’s even more potential,” he said.
“Virgin’s Orlando route has become a great success. When it was launched there were just four flights, now it’s up to 28 this year. Virgin started by dipping its toe in the market and it’s gone from there.
“I was in the States three weeks ago; there’s a good chance we could have some news in the next three months.
“We have a good low cost base and no APD (air passenger duty) on long haul.
“Belfast is becoming one of the coolest cities to travel to. People who come here love it.
“I think, to United, this was a much less important route for their business.
“However, Norwegian are much more focused on promoting the whole vibe around Belfast.”
While some of those travelling hoped to see as much as they could of the Emerald Isle with the Giant’s Causeway and Titanic Belfast featuring on itineraries, many also had family connections in Northern Ireland.
Dunadry woman Mary Neeson was waiting with her sons Thomas and Barry, neighbour Susan White and friend Maggie Harris for a very special arrival — her grandson, 11-month-old Rory.
She said: “My grandson was born in America and this is his first visit to Ireland and he arrives today, on July 4, so we thought we would do an Independence Day celebration for him.”
Mary’s son Conor (33) met a girl from Fort Lauderdale when he was working in the US and the rest, as they say, is history.
“It’s very exciting,” she said. “We have our whole house decorated with American flags and balloons and we are having a big Ulster fry for them when we get back. Rory will celebrate his first birthday here, so we are very excited for that.”
Vincent Barron was picking up his wife Kathleen and their four children from the airport. The Donegal native has been living in Boston for more than two decades. He flew to Belfast four days earlier than the rest of his family and will be staying in Donegal for another two weeks, but said the flight to Belfast had given him a reason to show his family Northern Ireland for the first time.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s not their first time to Ireland, but it’s their first time to Belfast.”
Lurgan woman Aideen Kingham was flying home after visiting her daughter, who works for Invest NI in America.
She said: “This has just been a breeze, because we’ve been travelling just outside Boston — I would definitely do it again. There’s also a flight to Cork and to Shannon, but it was always Belfast that we were hoping for.”