APPENDIX 2
Memorandum submitted by Councillor Ken
Robinson MLA
In response to the Northern Ireland Affairs
Sub-Committee: Air Transport Inquiry I should like to submit for
your consideration the following comments:
1. The maintenance of the Belfast to Heathrow
link is absolutely vital to the economic welfare of N Ireland
and for the total inclusion of its citizens.
2. The provision within the UK and Global
air network of a sustainable link between Belfast and Brussels
is also vital if N Ireland is to play a full part in the economic
and social integration of an expanded EU.
3. The further expansion of Belfast City
Airport is a vital component to the growth of domestic air travel.
The proximity of this airport to the centre of Belfast is a huge
selling point for business travellers from within the UK and should
be developed in a more coherent manner with additional input from
bodies such as DETI, IOD, INI, CBI etc being involved in maximising
this advantageous location.
4. The expansion of the direct flight opportunities
from Belfast International to holiday destinations is to be welcomed.
The encouragement offered to these operators to widen the range
of European destinations should be encouraged. This would attract
back many of these "package" type flights which currently
are forced to use Dublin Airport and this unnecessary practice
consequently inhibits future potential growth at Belfast International.
5. A serious drive should be made to attract
and sustain a cross Atlantic service from Belfast which could
target a NE city in the USA or a Canadian hub airport such as
Toronto. If properly marketed this could enable those travellers
who currently are forced to disperse to Dublin, Manchester and
the London airports to be encouraged to begin their cross Atlantic
journeys directly from Belfast. This has a two-way tourist market
potential if a regular and convenient flight pattern could be
established. The involvement of the Route Development Fund in
pursuit of this objective could make a significant difference.
6. Generally improved air traffic links
from the Belfast Airports have the potential for breaking the
psychological barrier which condemns N Ireland to be viewed as
peripheral in terms of the UK, EU and cross Atlantic air travel.
An opportunity to think outside that box exists in this Inquiry
which, I trust, will lead to a coherent and comprehensive expansion
of sustainable routes.
If I may comment on a related matter ie the
continuing high costs associated with ferry travel on the Irish
Sea routes, which is leading to a steady move away from surface
travel towards air travel within the UK domestic market. While
this inquiry is charged with investigating matters affecting air
transport I feel these two forms of transport cannot easily be
separated when forecasting future trends. It may be beneficial
to the sub-committee if, in their deliberations, they consider
the trends within both these forms of travel between Northern
Ireland and the rest of the Kingdom.
13 August 2004
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