BUSINESS FIRST NORTHERN IRELAND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 2017
You ain ’ t seen nothing yet at Belfast International Airport
By Graham Keddie , Managing Director , Belfast International Airport
he best is yet to come … To use the local vernacular , 2016 was a ‘ belter ’. As we
Tlook ahead , we can say that 2017 will be even better .
Belfast International Airport was a hive of activity across all fronts in 2016 . In terms of passenger numbers , we returned to the top ten of UK airports , and that was hugely satisfying .
By the end of the year , we ’ d broken through the five millionpassenger mark , and came close to our prerecession record of 5.3 million . In 2017 , we will surpass that tally and establish a new passenger record somewhere ‘ north ’ of 5.4 million .
Passenger growth has delivered results across several fronts . On the employment side , airport businesses have expanded their workforces by almost 1,000 employees . The new jobs are in every business located at the airport site , from airside catering and apron operations to police , fire and retail outlets . That fact alone , makes the airport one of the main job creators in Northern Ireland in 2016 . additional units , three kiosks and additional
As airlines consolidate new routes and space for existing food and beverage market vastly increased capacity , we will providers . undoubtedly see further employment growth What ’ s happening at one of our food and to meet demand . There is some cynicism beverage outlets is a pointed worth noting . about the ratio of new jobs to route
This one firm will be out again shortly on the development , but all I can say is that our recruitment trail . It will create fifteen numbers directly reflect the recognised permanent posts and , ahead of the summer industry standard which states that one ’ 17 peak , it will add twentyone seasonal staff . million passengers equate to 900plus new It will need every one of its 132 permanent jobs . staff and eightysix seasonal workers to keep
Ryanair , which now operates a network of pace with growing customer demand . Every twelve routes to GB and mainland European , day , this multimillion pound business sells and substantially increased capacity by more than 1,300 hot drinks and nearly 600 Northern Ireland ’ s main airline , easyJet , have pints of beer . Over the year , the powerful had a profound effect on our dramatic mainstay that is the Ulster Fry weighed in at growth . Jet2 has also boosted capacity , and close to 55,000 meals . jobs , which will go to underpinning
Success is fuelling success . Not far from the forecasted passenger expansion in 2017 . Terminal , a new £ 2.5 million retail and fuel
All of this is driven by passengers with a forecourt will soon be taking shape adjacent seemingly insatiable appetite for value . to our popular Park and Fly facility . This Gatwick is Northern Ireland ’ s most popular development will feature strong brand names destination in London , served by twelve in its 10,500 sq ft investment . flights aday by both easyJet and Ryanair
The company with the confidence to invest from the International . It eclipses Heathrow , is Moorefield Contracts and even before this and when London Luton and Stansted are initial development is open for business , its added , it means that more than 65 % of planning a second retail and forecourt project journeys from Northern Ireland to the capital and has its sights set on rolling out a number are made from the International Airport . of similar developments across Northern
The surge in passenger numbers has led to Ireland and GB . a retailing boom in our airside outlets .
On its own , this project will lead to thirtyfive permanent jobs , which will mean the
Maplins joined the list late last year and their arrival meant that all available shop units injection of more than £ 500,000 in wages were occupied . annually into the local economy . We ’ re looking at reconfiguring what space Further private sector investments of this remains to accommodate three new and greater magnitude are on the cards in
2017 . We will see hundreds of new jobs created as this vital strategic asset for Northern Ireland continues to deliver access , choice , jobs , competition and opportunities .
Vastly increased activity at the airport is also putting pressure on our main approach roads . The local administration must recognise that its timeframes for significant road investments , such as a dualcarriageway from the M2 with a bypass at Templepatrick , have are reexamined urgently . Putting major infrastructure investment on the longfinger is now longer wise or sensible .
Of course , this growth has been with the impediment of Air Passenger Duty ( APD ). If the Government did away with this obnoxious and lazy levy , we would see millions more passengers flying in and out of Belfast . It would lead to new routes – we currently have in excess of seventy scheduled and chartered destinations on Departure Screens – and new airlines capable of delivering major benefits for our tourism industry .
While the government considers what to do with APD , we will continue to work with Invest NI and the Department for the Economy on new longhaul routes to Canada and the United States . United will discontinue its service in early January and the search for a replacement carrier is being pursued with urgency .
2017 will be a bumper year for us . What has happened in 2016 was impressive , but I can safely say that in the year ahead , it will be a case of saying ‘ you ain ’ t seen nothing yet !’
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