Airports In Northern Ireland: What You Need To Know

Northern Ireland has three airports: Belfast International Airport, George Best Belfast City Airport, and City of Derry Airport. Belfast International Airport is the largest airport in Northern Ireland and the tenth busiest airport in the UK by passenger traffic. It is located 13.2 miles northwest of Belfast and is served by airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2, and TUI. George Best Belfast City Airport is named after the famous footballer and is located in East Belfast, near the Titanic Quarter. It offers daily flights from the UK and Amsterdam and has convenient transport links to the city centre. The City of Derry Airport is located 11.2 km outside of Derry City and offers direct flights to several cities in the UK. All three airports provide easy access to various destinations in Northern Ireland and beyond.

Northern Ireland's main airport

Northern Ireland has three airports: Belfast City Airport, Derry City Airport, and Belfast International Airport. Of these, Belfast International Airport is the main airport for the city of Belfast and the busiest airport in Northern Ireland. It is located 11.5 nautical miles (21.3 km or 13.2 miles) northwest of Belfast and is accessible via the M2 motorway. The airport operates four car parks, three of which are on-site, and travellers can reach the terminal building on foot or via a courtesy bus. An express bus service to the airport from Belfast Grand Central is also available.

Belfast International Airport (IATA: BFS, ICAO: EGAA) was known as Aldergrove Airport until 1983, named after the nearby village of Aldergrove, County Antrim. The airfield was previously shared with the Royal Air Force base RAF Aldergrove, which closed in 2008. The airport has undergone several upgrades since the 1970s, including improvements to runways, taxiways, and parking aprons. A new International Pier was constructed, along with lounge facilities and additional car parks. Belfast International Airport offers flights to European metropolitan areas and various leisure destinations. The majority of flights are operated by easyJet, Northern Ireland's largest airline. In 2024, the airport served over 6.7 million passengers, marking a 13% increase compared to 2023 and the highest number in its history.

Belfast City Airport, also known as George Best Belfast City Airport, is located in the heart of Belfast, on the south shore of Belfast Lough. It replaced Belfast Harbour Airport as Northern Ireland's civil airport in 1946 but was eventually replaced by Aldergrove (now Belfast International Airport) due to capacity issues. Airlines serving Belfast City Airport include Aer Lingus, British Airways, KLM, Icelandair, and Eastern Airways.

The City of Derry Airport is located 11.2 km outside of Derry City. It is well-connected, offering direct flights to several cities in the UK and connections to international destinations via other airports.

Belfast International Airport

The airport has a rich history, having first opened in 1946 as Nutts Corner Airport, replacing Belfast Harbour Airport (now George Best Belfast City Airport) as Northern Ireland's civil airport. In 1950, civil air traffic had outgrown the facilities at Nutts Corner, and aircraft were often diverted to the nearby Aldergrove RAF station, which had been expanded during World War II to accommodate larger aircraft. In 1963, a new terminal and apron were built at Aldergrove, and in 1966, the first regular jet service from Belfast to London-Gatwick began. The airport was renamed Belfast International Airport in 1983, and in 1994, it was privatised, with TBI taking ownership in 1996.

The airport is easily accessible by car from Belfast via the M2 motorway and offers four car parks, including three on-site car parks and one off-site car park. There are also plans to construct a new railway station serving the airport on the Lisburn-Antrim line, which remains in serviceable condition and passes close to the airport terminal.

Derry City Airport

Northern Ireland is served by three airports: Belfast City, Derry City, and Belfast International. Derry City Airport, also known as CoDA, is a regional airport located 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Derry and 8 miles (13 km) from the city centre. It is situated on the south bank of Lough Foyle, close to the village of Eglinton, and is also known locally as Eglinton Airport. The airport is owned and operated by Derry City Council, which appointed Albert Harrison, the former head of Belfast International Airport, as its new manager in 2009.

The airport has its origins in World War II, when the Royal Air Force (RAF) Eglinton air base was established in 1941. During the 1960s, Emerald Airways operated a service to Glasgow, and in 1967, they built a new terminal building and control tower. However, during the 1970s, the only flying activity at the airport was conducted by the Eglinton Flying Club, which is still based there. In 1978, the Londonderry City Council purchased the airfield with the aim of improving the transport infrastructure in the region.

A major redevelopment programme was undertaken from 1989 to 1993 with funding from the European Regional Development Fund. This resulted in upgraded facilities, including runways, taxiways, access roads, navigation equipment, runway lighting, a new terminal, and a fire station. The new terminal was opened in March 1994, and the airport's name was officially changed from Londonderry Eglinton to the City of Derry Airport. Despite these improvements, the airport has experienced a decline in passenger numbers in recent years, with 154,486 passengers in 2023, down from a peak of 438,996 in 2008.

Belfast City Airport

Northern Ireland is served by three airports: Belfast City Airport, Derry City Airport, and Belfast International Airport. In this article, we will focus on Belfast City Airport, officially known as George Best Belfast City Airport.

Location and Access

History

The airport began commercial operations in 1983 as Belfast Harbour Airport, before becoming Belfast City Airport, and then gaining its current name in 2006 in memory of George Best, the professional footballer from Belfast. The renaming ceremony was attended by Best's family and friends and would have been his 60th birthday.

Airlines and Destinations

As of February 2024, six airlines operate from Belfast City Airport, offering 30 routes across the UK and Europe. Airlines serving the airport include Aer Lingus, British Airways, KLM, Icelandair, and Eastern Airways. Destinations include London City, Amsterdam, Cardiff, Southampton, Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Inverness.

Passenger Numbers

Airlines that fly to Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has three airports: Belfast International Airport, George Best Belfast City Airport, and the City of Derry Airport.

Belfast International Airport

This airport is located 13.2 miles (21.3 km) northwest of Belfast and is Northern Ireland's main airport. It is the second-largest airport in Ireland and the tenth-busiest airport in the UK by passenger traffic. It is served by several airlines, including easyJet, Northern Ireland's biggest airline, Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, and Thomas Cook. The airport offers flights to over 70 destinations, including several European cities and leisure spots.

George Best Belfast City Airport

This airport is located in the heart of Belfast City and is one of the major airports in Ireland. It is served by airlines such as Aer Lingus, British Airways, KLM, Icelandair, and Eastern Airways.

City of Derry Airport

The City of Derry Airport is situated 11.2 km outside Derry City. It offers direct flights to several cities in the UK, including London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Liverpool. The airport also provides connections to further destinations, such as the UAE, Australia, and America, via Glasgow and Manchester.

Airlines serving Northern Ireland

A variety of airlines operate flights to and from Northern Ireland, including:

• Aer Lingus
• British Airways
• Ryanair
• Jet2
• TUI
• Thomas Cook
• EasyJet
• KLM
• Icelandair
• Eastern Airways
• Loganair
• Delta
• American Airlines
• Norwegian
• Air Canada
• United Airlines
• Air France
• CityJet
• Lufthansa
• Iberia
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Turkish Airlines

Frequently asked questions