13:31Northern Ireland’s bid to become a more attractive place to American firms and tourists was dealt a blow on Friday. United Airlines is pulling the plug on the only direct flight to the US, from from Belfast International Airport to Newark, after the EU blocked regional government state aid to the airline. It was due to receive £9m keep the route going but this was blocked by the European Commission today, and as a result the American carrier will pull its service in January. The airport’s managing dfirector, Graham Keddie, described the EU decision-making process as “abysmal, biased and unfair.”He continued: “This is a vital link for business and losing it will be a body blow to executive ministers who use it to promote Northern Ireland to would-be investors from the United States.”The Ulster Unionist Party described the loss of the service as an “international embarrassment.” Brussels’ decision will be seized upon by the pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party as further evidence of European bureaucrats over-riding the democratic wishes of the local power sharing executive and endangering jobs.

Source: The Guardian November 04, 2016 07:51 UTC