AQW 10920/22-27

Mr Phillip Brett
Democratic Unionist Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 26/04/2024
Answered On Date: 13/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any discussions he has had since taking to office aimed at securing direct flights between Northern Ireland and the United States of America.

Answer:

An important element of the Air Connectivity Research, commissioned by my Department, was direct engagement with a broad range of stakeholders, including local airports, key airlines, InvestNI and tourism organisations to identify and assess what our strategic objectives and policy levers should be going forward in the current highly constrained budget operating environment.

My Department consistently looks for ways we can enhance and support our air connectivity, and in addition Tourism Ireland (TI) continues to provide co-operative marketing support to airlines operating to all three of our local airports.