AQW 6637/16-21 Written question to the Minister for the Economy
To ask the Minister for the Economy what reasons United Airlines has given for cancelling the Belfast to Newark flight; and why his Department was unable to secure the necessary funding.
Asked by Stewart Dickson MLA on 7 November 2016
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Priority
- Tabled
- 7 November 2016
- Answer due by
- 10 November 2016
- Answered
- 22 November 201615 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- Yes
Answer
United Airlines has stated that it took the decision to cancel the Belfast to Newark service due to the poor financial performance of the route. The decision was prompted by the views of European Commission officials that the support being provided by the Northern Ireland Executive to maintain the service was State aid.
The necessary funding from both my Department and Belfast International Airport had already been secured.