V-Flyer

O'Leary in hissy fit over runway enquiry

Belfast City Airport enjoys a love hate relationship with local residents, who feel that the airport has been expanding by stealth.

They have demanded an enquiry into a runway extension, and this has had many delays - which is the reason given by Ryanair for pulling out.

However I can't help but wonder if those routes from Belfast were profitable why would Ryanair axe them? Are they using the enquiry as a smokescreen, as some local MPs believe? If Ryanair are always so cheap, how come bmi, Aer Lingus (the other Irish airline, flying from Belfast Intl) and flyBE appear to have seen them off on this occasion?

Belfast City is just so convenient...

The competition bit is interesting though. On a like for like destination basis - could the others compete? Over flights ex STN there is currently very little competition on either Ryanair or easyJet routes - it would be interesting to see someone like BMI or FlyBe take them on in say the STN-EDI route.

Paul