NI gets new flights to America
Two new routes to America have been announced from Belfast International Airport.
Low-cost airline Norwegian will launch the flights to Stewart International Airport and Providence, Rhode Island in Boston in July.
The New York service will run three times a week while the Boston service will fly twice weekly.
Fares for the routes will be lower as the planes will land at the smaller airports in those regions.
Graham Keddie, Managing Director, Belfast International Airport, said: “We have been working with Norwegian and Government agencies to get this project across the line.
“It was vitally important for Northern Ireland to re-connect with the United States of America.
"Without a direct air link, the job of attracting new investment and expanding Northern Ireland tourism would be a lot harder.
“Now, Norwegian, which has one of the youngest fleets in the business, has stepped up to the mark.
"There is an established market and re-instating a New York service was the main objective. Securing Boston was the icing on the cake!
“Both symbolically and from an economic standpoint, the New York link is the best possible boost for Northern Ireland."
Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos said: “Norwegian are shaking up transatlantic travel once again with ground-breaking fares and never before seen routes.
"We are delighted to announce our first ever flights from Belfast and to ensure the city maintains its crucial transatlantic links.
"The cost of transatlantic travel has been too high for too long so by connecting Northern Ireland with smaller US airports, we can offer some truly affordable fares, allowing as many people as possible to fly."
The news has also been welcomed by both the Federation of Small Businesses NI and Tourism Ireland.
“The direct route between Belfast and New York was highly valued by many business owners and FSB members, as they service existing US customers and explore other markets as the UK prepares to leave the EU," said Wilfred Mitchell OBE, FSB NI Policy Chair.
"Trade links with the United States are an important part of this strategy.
“The direct air links with the United States enables many visitors and investors to fly directly into Northern Ireland, and sends a positive signal that local businesses are well-positioned in the global market.”
“Today’s announcement is excellent news for tourism to Northern Ireland for 2017," said Niall Gibbons, Tourism Ireland.
"We look forward to working closely with Norwegian to maximise the promotion of these new routes from New York and Providence.
"As an island, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism.
"Tourism Ireland is committed to working with Norwegian, as well as with Belfast International, through co-operative marketing, to drive demand for these new flights.”