Airlines

Ryanair announces 4 additional routes for New Belfast International Base.

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Ryanair, the UK’s no.1 & most reliable airline, announced 4 additional routes for its comeback to Belfast International Airport for Summer’23. The return to Belfast International will consist of 16 total routes incl. these 4 newly announced routes to Budapest, Cardiff, Mallorca, and Valencia. Ryanair will operate over 140 weekly flights to/from Belfast International with 2 based aircraft from the beginning of the Summer’23 season, driving invaluable inbound tourism to Belfast and offering its Northern-Ireland customers unbeatable choice and the lowest fares when booking their summer getaways.

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Ryanair has driven the post-pandemic recovery of tourism across Europe, proving to be the most reliable airline in the UK with the fewest number of cancellations over a difficult summer’22 with ATC strikes and staff shortages across the industry. If the UK is to continue its recovery the Government needs to show support for growth by scrapping the aviation tax (APD) entirely for all flights. Whilst a benefit to domestic travel, a 50% cut on domestic flights only from April’23 is not enough.

Ryanair passengers board flight – only to discover their seats don’t exist(Opens in a new browser tab)

With 16 total routes to choose from for Summer’23, Belfast International customers and visitors can plan ahead and book a well-deserved getaway, on the lowest possible fares. To celebrate these 4 additional routes Ryanair will operate upon its return to Belfast International, the airline has launched a seat sale with fares available from just £29.99.

Ryanair announce 4 additional routes at new base at Belfast International for Summer’23 to the exciting destinations of Budapest, Cardiff, Mallorca, and Valencia. It will operate 16 total routes and 2 based aircraft representing an investment of $200m and the creation of over 800 direct/indirect jobs at Belfast International.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.