Flights between Cardiff Airport and Belfast are to resume six months after the service was suspended. The route was restored in May 2021 after being left vacant by the collapse of Flybe the previous year but it was announced in January this year that the service was being suspended.
The route was initially paused until early March but this suspension was later extended until June 5. At the time operator Eastern Airways, who had reintroduced the direct service with fares starting at less than £70, told passengers that demand for the route "had not returned to the level we expected in order to maintain a financially sustainable service".
During this time those wanting to travel between Wales and Northern Ireland were unable to fly directly and had to travel via an airport in England instead. Get the latest news from across Wales sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our newsletters here.
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However flights between the two capital cities are now set to resume with Cardiff Airport announcing that Emerald Airlines, the exclusive Aer Lingus regional operator, will restore the domestic service. The operator will run flights between Belfast and Cardiff five days a week from July 7 with fares starting from £39.99.
Flights will leave Cardiff for Belfast at 12pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The return journey from Belfast to Cardiff departs at 10.10am on the same days.
Emerald Airlines opened its base at Belfast City Airport – located just five minutes from the city centre – earlier this year. As well as servicing Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Exeter, Manchester, and Leeds Bradford the operator has also announced it will run new routes from Southampton and Cardiff.
The resumption of the "critical" service will be welcome news for passengers wanting to visit friends and relatives or explore Belfast on a city break. When the route was initially restored in 2021 Spencer Birns, CEO at Cardiff Airport, said he was "delighted" to see the route reintroduced, adding that it was "an important connection for customers".
Marc Watkins, aviation development manager at Cardiff Airport, said: “Thanks a million to Emerald Airlines for announcing that it will restart the critical connection between Cardiff and Belfast under the Aer Lingus banner. It’s great that our customers looking to fly between Wales and Northern Ireland no longer have to travel via England.
"The schedule and days of the week that flights are being operated are fantastic – whether you’re catching up with friends and relatives, needing to travel between the two cities for work, or for tourists visiting Belfast to enjoy the craic.”
Ciarán Smith, head of commercial at Emerald Airlines, added: “As we near the peak summer months the launch of our Cardiff services will provide those travelling to Belfast with more choice when planning their holidays. When quick getaways are on the top of everyone’s mind we are offering convenient timings and low fares, increasing connectivity to and from Northern Ireland.
"We are extremely pleased with the feedback we have received since beginning our operations from Belfast City Airport and believe Cardiff is a great new connection that will cater to both business and leisure travellers with direct, convenient and cost-effective flights to the Northern Irish capital.”
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