The barking dogs that were not heard

Two bits of business in this post.  First, the sharp-eyed squid has pointed out that the first hints of an Aer Lingus move to Belfast appeared not in mid-June but in late May.  Below, the rest of the Irish News story to which squid refers.  Second, another interesting thing from the NI media.  Willie Walsh noted as expressing interest in June in getting an Aldergrove-Heathrow service up and running, but wearing his new hat as CEO of British Airways, and not his former one as CEO of Aer Lingus.   Of course, since Aer Lingus can deliver connecting passengers to BA from Belfast, BA wouldn’t have needed to use their own precious slots to do it if Aer Lingus did it for them.  Hmmm.

At the very least, isn’t it time for Bertie’s media monitoring shop, run at taxpayer expense, to get daily copies of the Irish News and Belfast Telegraph, or if they are getting copies, to actually read them?

22 May 2007
The Irish News
Pg. 41
(c) 2007, The Irish News Ltd.

Aer Lingus could be about to start flying from Belfast International Airport (BIA). Executives from the Dublin-based airline are meeting BIA officials today to talk over a deal that would see Aer Lingus base three aircraft in Belfast, flying 15 new routes.   One of the those would be a prized Heathrow service, breaking the monopoly bmi has had on the route since 2002 flying from the George Best Belfast City Airport.

It would be the first time the airline has opened a base outside the Republic. To date, Aer Lingus has concentrated its activities in Dublin, Cork and Shannon, flying to destinations in the UK, Europe and the US.   Aer Lingus announced last year that it planned to expand by opening a new base somewhere in the UK.

The Irish News has learned that Belfast is one of three still in the running - the others are thought to be Birmingham and Manchester.  It is understood that discussions have taken place over a number of months and have now reached an advanced stage.

Today’s meeting could lead to a decision being taken within weeks. Services would start before the end of this year or early next year.  A source close to the airport said that Belfast stood a good chance because of the obvious links Aer Lingus has with Ireland.

” Aer Lingus as a brand has an obvious association with Ireland, north and south. It’s an airline that people outside Ireland more easily identify with Belfast than either Manchester and Birmingham,” he said.  “The region also has tremendous untapped potential with very little competition from other airports in the region, apart from Dublin which is more than two hours away.”

If Aer Lingus does choose Belfast, it would be a terrific boost for Northern Ireland’s burgeoning tourism sector.  Growing hotel, conference and tourism business is an area where the region has prospered over the past decade.

That has been reflected by rapid growth in the number of international destinations served from Belfast which has gone from one to more than 20 in just three years. Devolution is expected to produce a further boost to visitor numbers.

Despite stiff competition from Ryanair, Aer Lingus has grown its route network from Dublin in recent years, flying to new destinations in southern, eastern and northern Europe.   Heathrow would to be the airline’s only domestic route from Belfast with the rest likely to include places such as Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich, Budapest, Venice and Copenhagen.

Whether Belfast is chosen will depend on what sweeteners the airport’s Spanish owners Abertis are prepared to offer.  Since it took over BIA two years ago, Abertis has repeatedly stated its ambition to grow the airport and invest in new facilities.

The firm, which has extensive airport interests across Europe, now has an opportunity to prove itself and score a major coup over the rival City Airport.  Incentives in the form of reduced landing charges or marketing support are likely to form a key part of discussions taking place at Aldergrove today.

Abertis may also have to dig deep to build new facilities at Aldergrove to accommodate Aer Lingus.  A three aircraft base would mean another one million passengers a year. BIA would have to bring forward plans to construct a new pier and other improvements to the terminal.

A spokesman for the International Airport said it met airlines regularly to discuss business opportunities but would not confirm the latest talks with Aer Lingus.