Ryanair will reopen its base at Belfast International Airport next summer, offering 115 flights a week on 12 routes including Alicante, Barcelona-Girona and Malaga.

The airline will also operate domestic flights from Belfast to East Midlands, Edinburgh, London Stansted and Manchester.

It will base two aircraft at Belfast, where it will employ 60 staff.

Ryanair said it was returning to the airport ‘after two difficult years for tourism’.

Director of Commercial Jason McGuinness said: “At a time when other airlines are cutting their schedules and reducing their workforce, we are delighted to announce a new Ryanair base at Belfast International Airport with 12 exciting routes and two based aircraft representing an investment of $200m at Belfast International and the creation of over 800 direct/indirect jobs.”

Ryanair said it has reached a long-term agreement with Belfast International to underpin its future growth at the airport.