TUV Leader protests neglect of Belfast International Airport
21 October 2009
TUV Leader Jim Allister has challenged why infrastructural investment to improve access to Belfast International Airport is being allowed to lag behind.
In a statement Mr Allister said;-
“Access to Larne and our key port there is being improved by upgrading of the A8, even the airport at Eglington is to get a dual carriageway from Londonderry, but our International Airport is left crippled with traffic having to pass through either the oversubscribed village of Templepatrick or via the tortuous A 26 to and from Moira. Quick access to a motorway or dual carriageway is a feature of every successful international airport.
“On this island Belfast International is in competition with Dublin Airport, which has direct motorway access. We are losing the competition battle to Dublin, with only 8% of the available seat capacity in the key international tourism/investment markets (USA, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, France, Spain, Italy, Australia/NZ), whereas Dublin dominates with 92%, despite the NI Executive contributing 1/3 of the annual marketing budget for overseas promotion to Tourism Ireland.
“Lack of easy and efficient road access (and no rail access) is stifling Belfast International, yet, sadly, DRD seems utterly indifferent. It would rather pour money into an unnecessary A5 route and improve access to Dublin, rather than see Aldergrove given the access infrastructure it needs.
“Our international airport is a key employer. The airport site is the second largest employment site in NI, with over 5,000 people employed across 250 companies, contributing over £250M annually into the locally economy in salaries and wages. With adequate access there is tremendous potential for growth.
“At a time when FDI projects have all but dried up, the challenge is to find alternative and more cost-effective ways of generating wealth and employment. Belfast International is ideally suited given its land bank and the nature of its round-the-clock operations. The 'building blocks' are increased passenger numbers; increased cargo activity; airport and aviation-related enterprises and support services. But the key to delivering on such a vision is a joined up infrastructure. And the starting point has to be prioritising upgraded road access from the M2 at Templepatrick and the M1 at Moira.
“Sadly, we have an Executive more focused on schemes like the A5 while ignoring the immense potential which would flow from making our international airport the economic hub which it can be. Belfast International Airport – alongside the Port of Belfast – is one of NI’s two principal infrastructure assets and economic drivers, with significant scope to expand and thus benefit greatly, but without the infrastructural investment its growth is stultified.”
