Air Berlin entered a third UK domestic route last Tuesday (May 2). The German budget airline is now flying twice daily Monday to Friday between London Stansted and Belfast's convenient City Airport, which is located three km from downtown. Flights operate once daily on Saturday and Sunday, with fares starting at £19 one-way and £38 return. As this is a new route there is currently plenty of availability at these prices provided you avoid weekends.
Easyjet currently flies between Stansted and Belfast but its services use the city's international airport which is some 20 kms outside town.
The launch of this route has won praise in Ulster which has suffered from a lack of direct air links to mainland Europe. Air Berlin's flights connect at Stansted with the carrier's onward flights to destinations in Germany such as Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hanover, Leipzig, Nuremburg and Austria (Vienna). Unlike most other budget carriers, Air Berlin passengers can through check from one flight to another. It also began serving hot meals inflight (see Online news, April 6) from the beginning on this month.
London-Belfast flights between Monday and Friday depart Stansted at 0745 and 1640 to reach City Airport at 0845 and 1745. In the return direction, flights depart City at 0920 and 1820 to reach Stansted an hour later.
Air Berlin's other two UK domestic routes (Stansted to Manchester and Glasgow) continue as before.
For more information go to airberlin.com
Report by Alex McWhirter
