AQW 10798/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 23/11/2020
Answered On Date: 01/12/2020
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance what support will be available to the Belfast International Airport to bridge the gap to a COVID-19 recovery.

Answer:

I secured Executive agreement to a range of measures to support our airports and airlines over recent months, including the 100% rates relief package I announced in May. This specific support provides rates relief for Belfast International Airport (BIA) until 31 March 2021 and is worth £1.7m to BIA alone.

My Department is continuing to engage with the airports, and indeed the Economy and Infrastructure Departments, who are each responsible for various aspects of aviation. In that regard, I announced in the Assembly last week my intention to bring forward proposals to provide further support to our airports in the coming days.