Ryanair is to establish a new base in Belfast with flights to four British destinations starting in October.
Europe's biggest low-cost airline said in a statement it will station a new Boeing 737-800 aircraft at George Best Belfast City Airport pending an extension to the runway.
Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary wearing a No.11 Northern Ireland international soccer shirt in memory of Best, and carrying a placard which declared: 'Northern Ireland Says No to High Fares' revealed he was ready to introduce new European routes if the runway at Belfast City was lengthened.
However, aircraft flying to and returning from the continent will need an additional 200 metres. Mr O'Leary said: "Once the extension is in place in the next 12-18 months, then we will be introducing sexy destinations like Barcelona, Rome and Paris."
"In the coming year, 600,000 passengers will fly Ryanair to and from Belfast," he said.
"These visitors will generate a tourism spend of over 100 million pounds (€147.92 million), which will sustain 600 local jobs."
This is Ryanair 's 23rd European base and the airline will fly to Glasgow, East Midlands, Liverpool and London's Stansted airports from Belfast.