When the original incarnation of UK regional airline Flybe collapsed at the start of the pandemic in early 2020, the airline accounted for 80% to 85% of Belfast City Airport’s passenger traffic. Recovery from such a major blow was understandably slow, especially in the throes of the pandemic, and by the time CEO Matthew Hall took over in August 2021, passenger numbers were still only at 17% of pre-Covid levels.
The collapse of ‘Flybe 2’ in January this year was a much more moderate affair for the airport, with the Birmingham-based regional accounting for only 15% of passenger numbers. Additionally, said Hall, most of ‘Flybe 2’s’ routes were being shadowed by other carriers, predominantly by Aer Lingus Regional, so Flybe’s passengers were swiftly picked up by competitors.
And, since the collapse of ‘Flybe 1’, Belfast City’s portfolio of airlines has grown to seven – a much healthier position than when almost all the airport’s eggs were in the one basket, said Hall.
Some 2.6 million passengers passed through Belfast City in 2019. Last year, numbers were still only at 1.6 million; this year should see the airport handling 2.2 million, with 2024 predicted to be at or higher than pre-pandemic values.
“It’s important to recognize the market here. Of the total passenger volume, around 70%, is to Great Britain. Domestic connectivity is critical,” Hall says.
Belfast City is rebuilding its network coverage, but equally important are frequencies. London is obviously of particular importance. “We have flights to London Heathrow with British Airways up to seven times a day; easyJet has three to Gatwick and is adding London Luton.” There are also services to London City up to three times daily.
Looking into the future, UK domestic services will continue to form the most important market segment, although this will gradually decline from the current 70% to 60%-65%: “The fastest growing portion of the market is international. We already have two daily services to Amsterdam with KLM and we have added our first service to Frankfurt with Lufthansa.
“That hub connectivity – Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Heathrow – is a significant connectivity benefit” and he believes that there will be more growth opportunities on those routes.
Belfast City lives up to its name by being just a five-minute trip away from the city center. A mainline rain station is 5 minutes’ walk from the terminal and the airport is working with the rail provider to find ways to improve that situation in future years. Terminal improvements have included the recent opening of a £1.2 million ($1.5 million) executive lounge, which has received highly positive reactions.
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