Ulster Unionist Party Business Spokesperson, Alderman Mark Cosgrove, has stated that the Government can`t sit on the sidelines in the aftermath of the collapse of Flybe.

Alderman Cosgrove said:

“As a director of a multinational business I have used Flybe on a regular basis as a business passenger for many years and its collapse is a devastating blow to the general connectivity of Northern Ireland industry with its customers and suppliers in our largest market in Great Britain.

“Many business colleagues in other sectors have contacted me to say that it is certainly going to create a lot of difficulties and in the absence of suitable alternatives will create a structural deficiency for our business and wider community. There simply aren`t alternatives routes to the south and south west of England and further into the north of Scotland without the network operated by Flybe. Businesses need air connectivity across the United Kingdom as we rely on air links to get all over the country and link into European hubs given that our geographical position does not offer itself up for rail and road links.

“If we are to attract more business and jobs to Northern Ireland we need to put the proper infrastructure in place so that we have first rate connectivity with the rest of the United Kingdom and the onward links into Europe and the US. I wish Brian Ambrose and his team well at Belfast City Airport as they seek new operators to operate the routes out of Belfast, but the Government needs to step in as well. They can`t just sit on the sidelines and watch from a distance. We cannot afford to see Northern Ireland isolated by a lack of action.

“A failure to see the air routes reinstated that were previously operated by Flybe will leave a significant infrastructural deficit for the Northern Ireland business community. Businesses are already facing the prospect of more uncertainty with the Irish Sea border proposals coming from the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. This heaps more uncertainty on top.”