Belfast International Airport claims 500% rise in profits

By David Hunter

Belfast International Airport has reported a 500% jump in operating profit compared to this time last year. 

Turnover jumped by almost 12% bringing operating profit to £2.886 million comparing with £510,000 in the previous 12 months.

Four million passengers came through the Co.Antrim facility in the first eight months of the year with the airport on course for record passenger growth.

It expects to achieve 5.76 million passengers by the end of the year and to exceed 6 million next year.

The figures have been described as ‘a superb effort’ by Managing Director, Graham Keddie: "Our team has worked hard to achieve these impressive numbers. 

"Our business is ever-changing, and what we’re seeing is a sustained effort leading to tremendous growth.

“Indeed, passenger growth is leading to investment by our providers with food and beverage provider, SSP, showing the way with an investment of £2.5 million in its outlets. 

"On top of that, we have seen an additional 800 jobs actually created by our businesses. We’re an economic and employment success story for Northern Ireland, but we’re only at the start of our exciting journey".

Mr.Keddie said it also offered a real alternative to Dublin which is suffering from a strong euro, and that he expected to attract more business from the Republic of Ireland in 2018.

“Our big ‘asks’ remain the ending of Air Passenger Duty (APD) on short-haul flights to really enhance our competitive edge and work on approach roads to our airport which are in need of upgrading to make them fit for purpose" he said.

During the year to the end of December, 2016, passenger numbers soared by 17% from 4.4 million to 5.2 million.

Turnover went from £31.1 million to £34.8 million with profit before tax coming in at £611,000.

Capital expenditure at the airport stood at £4.1 million in 2016 with a further ongoing programme of investments being rolled out this year with expenditure in 2017 expected to exceed £5 million.