George Best Belfast City airport has launched a new winter ski route to Salzburg.
Operated in conjunction with Topflight and Crystal Ski Holidays, the charter Aer Lingus flight will run each Saturday from Christmas Eve until March.
Packages including the flights are already on sale with departures taking off at 13.30 while the return flight touches down at 19.50.
Katy Best, commercial and marketing director at Belfast City airport, said: “Belfast City airport is continually seeking opportunities to grow our successful European route network and we’re delighted to launch this new charter ski flight to Salzburg.
“In Topflight and Crystal Ski Holidays we have partnered with leading operators with a proven pedigree in delivering ski holiday packages throughout Europe.
“Salzburg is a world-class ski destination and its wide range of quality ski resorts, which cater for skiers of all abilities, are all served by our new route.
“The demand for ski holidays in the local market is strong, and we are confident this route, facilitated by Aer Lingus, will prove very popular and be warmly welcomed by ski tourists of all abilities.”
Topflight sales director Maurice Shiels agreed, adding: “We have seen significant growth across the ski market in recent years and the increased capacity on this route from Belfast to Salzburg will further enhance that upward trend.
“Sales to date show that the demand is certainly out there.”
Chris Logan, managing director of Crystal Ski Holidays UK and Ireland, said: “There has been an increase in the number of UK airports providing ski flights in recent years, with 23 bases now offering routes to 136 ski resorts across Europe.
“With Salzburg having a well-established reputation as one of the world’s premier ski destinations for families and groups, this new flight is a very timely addition to the Northern Ireland market and one which we are confident will be extremely well received.”
The ski resorts which will be served by the new Belfast City-Salzburg route include Kitzbühel, Zell am See, St Johann, Kirchberg, Söll, and St Wolfgang, with package prices starting from £389pp.