Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage more competition between airlines on routes connecting Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

We recognise the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in the UK that supports Union connectivity. The UK aviation market operates predominantly in the private sector, and it is for airports to invest in their infrastructure and airlines to determine the routes they operate.

Northern Ireland is well served by airlines operating routes to Great Britain.

Airlines including Aer Lingus, British Airways, easyJet, Loganair and Ryanair operate routes from Northern Ireland to several cities across Great Britain.