The UK government should be prepared to intervene to protect landing slots at Heathrow Airport for flights originating from Northern Ireland, the owner of Belfast International Airport has said. Mr Keith Brooks, chief executive of TBI plc, believes it is important for the Northern economy that the links are maintained between Belfast and Heathrow. "I believe that the Heathrow route is important because it is about both social inclusion and economic needs," Mr Brooks told The Irish Times.

British Airways last week said it planned to cut its daily services between Belfast International Airport and Heathrow at the end of this month.

TBI has said the move could cost it £6.9 million sterling in lost profits and follows a previously projected loss of £6 million following BMI British Midland's decision to move its operations from Belfast International to Belfast City Airport.

Mr Brooks said he learned about British Airway's plans barely five minutes before a press conference to announce its restructuring programme.

"I was very surprised. It is the British flag carrier and I think that its decision is very bad for Northern Ireland at a time when there needs to be support for this area of the UK. It is ironic in one sense that Northern Ireland has been so adversely impacted by the terrorist attacks in America, after suffering 30 years of terrorism in their own country," Mr Brooks said.