Debate contribution: United States of America: Air Link
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 5 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- United States of America: Air Link
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5774371
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Restoring a direct air service between Belfast and a major United States hub remains an important objective for my Department. The North continues to experience connectivity challenges arising from competition from other regions and from our geographic location and consequential reliance on air travel to access critical markets. Research identifies direct access to the US East Coast as one of our most significant connectivity gaps and highlights the importance of direct transatlantic connectivity in supporting inward investment, international trade, business travel and tourism. My officials continue to engage with Belfast International Airport and industry stakeholders on potential transatlantic connection opportunities. While the aviation sector currently operates in a very challenging environment, with airlines facing increased costs when making network and route planning decisions, we remain committed to working with industry partners to identify credible opportunities. Any future intervention by my Department must be evidence-based, affordable, compliant with subsidy control and, of course, represent value for money. A primary objective will be to support routes that are capable of becoming commercially sustainable over the longer term.
175 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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