{"id":14352,"date":"2020-05-01T09:14:53","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T13:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=14352"},"modified":"2020-05-03T09:15:56","modified_gmt":"2020-05-03T13:15:56","slug":"british-government-safeguards-flights-between-britain-and-the-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=14352","title":{"rendered":"British Government Safeguards Flights Between Britain And The North"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Flights between Northern Ireland and Britain will continue to operate through \u00a35.7 million (\u20ac6.5m) of taxpayer funding, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced.<\/p>\n

The package is being funded by the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure airports and airlines do not axe \u201clifeline services\u201d because of the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

Aer Lingus and Loganair will be subsidized to maintain London flights to and from Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport respectively.<\/p>\n

We must ensure that critical workers can continue to fly over the Irish Sea and today\u2019s investment in these lifeline services guarantees that<\/p>\n

The Northern Irish airports involved will also be given funding to provide ground services for the flights.<\/p>\n

The Belfast-London route \u201cwould be at risk without financial assistance given low passenger numbers\u201d, the Department for Transport stated.<\/p>\n

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: \u201cMaintaining air links between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is vital.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must ensure that critical workers can continue to fly over the Irish Sea and today\u2019s investment in these lifeline services guarantees that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Northern Ireland\u2019s Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said: \u201cOur airports have been badly affected by the dramatic drop in passenger numbers but, like me, they recognize the need to keep our island connected.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a unique payment that will offer much-needed support in the short term during the crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last week the UK Government announced a \u00a317 million (\u20ac19.5m) package to safeguard sea routes between Britain and Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n

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