Flybe announces it is to axe Belfast-Liverpool service
Flybe is to axe its route between Belfast City Airport and Liverpool from December 31.
The decision is due to lower than expected passenger numbers on the route, it said.
However, it confirmed that it will reinstate the service for the weekend of May 11-13, 2019, to serve Irish football fans wishing to travel to Liverpool for the last Premier League game of the season between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, May 12.
Flybe currently operates three routes from Liverpool, to Belfast City Airport, the Isle of Man, and Newquay.
The Exeter-based airline, which issued a profits warning on October 17, ahead of the release of its interim results on November 14, said the decision was part of “company strategy”.
At the same time, it revealed it will be expanding its Belfast to Glasgow route from February, 2019.
Flybe chief commercial officer, Roy Kinnear, said: “Flybe has a clearly defined network strategy, which means we continually review our flights and network performance and will consider re-assigning any under-performing operations in order to better re-allocate resources to other stronger performing sections of our network.
“As such, we regret it has been necessary to suspend the Belfast-Liverpool service, with the last flight operating on Monday, December 31.
“This is due to passenger numbers remaining below sustainable projections, with no sign of this improving, despite very competitive pricing.
“But flights over the weekend of May 11-13 will operate to accommodate those football fans wishing to travel to Liverpool for the last day of the Premier League season.”
He added: “All other passengers are being contacted in order of date of travel with the offer of being re-accommodated on an alternative flight or applying for a refund.
“We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience experienced as a result of our decision.”
A spokesperson for Liverpool John Lennon Airport said: “The service was only operating once a day, four days a week, and with easyJet operating up to seven departures per day to Belfast International Airport, passengers still have lots of opportunities to fly to Belfast from Liverpool.”
