Northern Ireland is served by several airports, with the main airport being Belfast International Airport, located 11.5 NM northwest of the city. Belfast International offers the most flight options to Northern Ireland, with flights from the UK, Europe, and the United States. Other airports in Northern Ireland include George Best Belfast City Airport, which is a popular choice for those travelling from England, and Derry Airport, which serves the town of Londonderry.

Airports in Northern Ireland

Belfast International Airport

Northern Ireland is home to several airports, including Belfast International Airport, which is located 11.5 NM (21.3 km or 13.2 mi) northwest of Belfast. It is the main airport for the city of Belfast and has the IATA code BFS and the ICAO code EGAA.

The airport has a rich history of accommodating various airlines and flight routes. British Airways launched the first Belfast-to-London shuttle service, and in 1983, the airport regularly handled the largest civil aircraft in service. EasyJet, Northern Ireland's biggest airline, operates the majority of flights from Belfast International, offering numerous domestic and European routes. In 2018, over 6.2 million passengers travelled through the airport, a number that increased to 6.7 million in 2024, the highest in its history.

The airport has witnessed several airlines come and go, with Ryanair announcing its return in 2022 and the addition of a base. Other airlines that have used the airport include British Midland International, Thomas Cook Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Turkish Airlines, although the latter did not result in a service agreement. Belfast International Airport continues to be a significant hub for Northern Ireland, offering convenient travel options for passengers.

George Best Belfast City Airport

Northern Ireland is home to several airports, including Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport. This airport, located in County Down, is situated on the south shore of Belfast Lough, adjacent to the Belfast Harbour and the A2, one of the main routes into the city. It is just 3 miles (4.8 km) from Belfast City Centre.

The airport has seen a significant increase in passengers over the years, with 2.3 million travellers in 2024, peaking at 2.7 million in 2010. As of February 2024, six airlines operate from the airport, offering 30 routes across the UK and Europe. Current airlines include Aer Lingus, KLM, British Airways, Loganair, Eastern Airways, easyJet, and Flybe.

Derry Airport

Northern Ireland is home to several airports, including the City of Derry Airport, previously known as RAF Eglinton and Londonderry Eglinton Airport. The airport is located 7 miles (11 km) northeast of Derry and is situated on the south bank of Lough Foyle, close to the village of Eglinton. The City of Derry Airport is currently a base for the Scottish regional airline Loganair, which operates domestic flights within the UK. Other airlines serving this airport include Ryanair, easyJet, and Volotea.

The history of the City of Derry Airport can be traced back to World War II when the Royal Air Force (RAF) established the Eglinton air base in 1941. During the 1960s, Emerald Airways operated a service to Glasgow, and Emerald built a new terminal building and control tower to support these operations. The first flight to Glasgow took off on September 16, 1967. Throughout the 1970s, the Eglinton Flying Club, which is still based at the airport, was the primary user of the airfield.

In 1978, the Londonderry City Council decided to purchase the airfield to improve the transport infrastructure in the northwest of Ireland. The airport has gradually developed since then, offering private short-haul charters to destinations within the British Isles. Loganair introduced the first scheduled flight between Derry and Glasgow in 1979, although this route was later discontinued due to rising fuel costs.

The City of Derry Airport underwent a significant redevelopment programme from 1989 to 1993, funded by the European Regional Development Fund. This £10.5 million investment upgraded runways, taxiways, access roads, navigation equipment, and runway lighting. A new terminal and fire station were also constructed, with the former being officially opened in March 1994. Despite these improvements, the airport has faced a decline in passenger numbers in recent years, attributed to factors such as the COVID pandemic and underfunding. Nevertheless, the airport remains an important transport hub for the region, with various airlines offering domestic and international connections.

Aldergrove Airport

Northern Ireland's main airport, Belfast International Airport, was known as Aldergrove Airport until 1983. The airport is named after the village of Aldergrove, which lies immediately to the west of the airport. The site was established in 1917 as a training base for the Royal Flying Corps during World War I. It remained open after the war for RAF activity and civil traffic began in 1922 with flights carrying newspapers from Chester. The first scheduled passenger service began in 1933, with two daily flights between Aldergrove and Renfrew Airport in Glasgow, operated by the Scottish airline Midland & Scottish Air Ferries.

During World War II, Aldergrove continued to serve as an RAF station, particularly for the Coastal Command. A major works programme was undertaken, replacing the four existing runways with two new long paved runways to accommodate larger, long-range aircraft. This work formed the basis of the airport's layout today. As part of the wartime airfield construction programme, Nutts Corner Airport was built just 3 miles from Aldergrove. In 1946, Nutts Corner replaced Belfast Harbour Airport (now George Best Belfast City Airport) as Northern Ireland's civil airport.

By the 1950s, civil air traffic had outgrown Nutts Corner, and aircraft were often diverted to Aldergrove due to adverse weather conditions. In 1959, the decision was made to move civil flights to Aldergrove, and a new terminal was built, opening in 1963. The first regular jet service to London Gatwick began in 1966, and scheduled services to New York City were introduced in 1968 by Aer Lingus and BOAC via Shannon and Prestwick respectively.

Belfast International Airport is located 11.5 miles northwest of Belfast and is the largest airport in Northern Ireland in terms of passenger numbers. In 2018, over 6.2 million passengers travelled through the airport, with the majority of flights operated by easyJet, Northern Ireland's biggest airline. The airfield was previously shared with the RAF base RAF Aldergrove, which closed in 2008. The base is now known as the Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station, and both runways are owned by the airport.

Airports with flights from the UK mainland

Northern Ireland has several airports that offer flights from the UK mainland. Belfast International Airport, previously known as Aldergrove Airport, is the main airport for the city of Belfast. It is located 11.5 NM northwest of the city and offers various flight options to and from Northern Ireland. In 2018, over 6.2 million passengers travelled through the airport, with the majority of flights operated by easyJet, including flights from London Gatwick, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. Belfast International is well-connected to the city by the Airport Bus, shuttles, and taxis.

George Best Belfast City Airport, also known as Belfast City Airport, is another popular option for those travelling to Northern Ireland from the UK mainland. It is located just off to the east of downtown Belfast and offers flights from all main UK cities, including London Heathrow with British Airways and bmibaby, and London Gatwick and Manchester with Flybe. This airport is smaller and sees over two million passengers annually. It is also conveniently located, with a 15-minute airport bus ride to the city and a separate service to Londonderry.

Derry Airport, serving the northwestern town of Londonderry, is the third airport in Northern Ireland. It offers direct flights from several UK destinations, including London Stansted, Birmingham, and Glasgow Prestwick, mainly served by Ryanair. This airport has more basic facilities compared to the Belfast airports.

In summary, while Belfast International Airport offers the most flight options to and from Northern Ireland, Belfast City Airport is the most popular choice for those travelling from the UK mainland due to its convenient location and flight options from all major UK cities. Derry Airport is also an option for those travelling directly to the northwestern part of Northern Ireland.

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