EASYJET is set to reveal at least one but possibly two new routes from Northern Ireland, it has emerged.
It came as the airline welcomed a third A320 aircraft - the sixth plane to be positioned its Belfast International Airport base - went into official service as the carrier also launched inaugural flights to Naples and Valencia.
The new 186-seat aircraft will remain based in Belfast throughout the year and joins three 156-seat Airbus A319 and two 186-seat A320 aircraft serving customers in the north.
And due to the volume of inbound easyJet flights at Belfast International Airport, the addition of this aircraft means that the airline offers capacity equivalent to up to 13 aircraft.
Yesterday easyJet took off for the Isle of Man and Venice for the first time, and today launches flights to Naples and Valencia.
It means the airline now operates more than 620 flights a week across 32 routes - says more will be revealed over the summer months, without yet specifying any destinations.
Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK country manager, said: “We're absolutely delighted to be celebrating further expansion at Belfast Airport.
"The addition of another aircraft and even more routes will help us to deliver long term, sustainable growth at the base providing passengers with a greater range of destinations, all with low fares and great service.
“This ongoing growth demonstrates tour long-term commitment to Northern Ireland, and with fares as low as £18.70, that’s 37 per cent cheaper than when we launched our first route for £29.99 from Belfast over 18 years ago, since when we've carried more than over 55 million passengers.”
Graham Keddie, managing director at Belfast International Airport, added: “We welcome these new easyJet routes to Naples, Venice, Valencia and the Isle of Man, and the addition of a sixth aircraft to the five already based at the airport is a huge boost.
"In a year that we expect will be record-breaking for the airport, this enhances our route offering for passengers and also shows the value easyJet places on its operation at Belfast International Airport and the importance of the Northern Ireland market.”
EasyJet has flown more than 55 million passengers since it launched operations from Belfast in 2001, and over four million passengers last year alone, representing more than 70 per cent of all flights from Aldergrove and nearly half of all commercial passenger traffic across Northern Ireland.
