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Belfast is served by two airports: George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport. George Best Belfast City Airport is located in County Down, while Belfast International Airport is located in County Antrim. Both airports offer flights to destinations across the UK and Europe, with Belfast International also providing flights to some long-haul destinations. In this article, we will explore the history, facilities, and operations of each airport, providing an overview of their role in Northern Ireland's aviation industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Belfast International Airport (until 1983: Aldergrove Airport); George Best Belfast City Airport (until 1983: Belfast Harbour Airport; until 2006: Belfast City Airport) |
| Location | 11.5 NM (21.3 km; 13.2 mi) northwest of Belfast, Northern Ireland; County Antrim; County Down |
| IATA Airport Code | BFS (Belfast International Airport); BHD (George Best Belfast City Airport) |
| ICAO Airport Code | EGAA (Belfast International Airport); EGAC (George Best Belfast City Airport) |
| Passenger Traffic | 6.7 million (Belfast International Airport, 2024); 2.3 million (George Best Belfast City Airport, 2024); 2.7 million (George Best Belfast City Airport, 2010) |
| Airlines | easyJet (Belfast International Airport); Aer Lingus, British Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines, Ryanair, Flybe, Manx2, Bmibaby, Emerald Airlines (George Best Belfast City Airport) |
| Car Parks | 4 (Belfast International Airport); unknown (George Best Belfast City Airport) |
| Bus Services | Translink express bus service 300, 109A bus service (Belfast International Airport); Waldo Community Action Partners (George Best Belfast City Airport) |
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What You'll Learn
Belfast International Airport is in County Antrim
Belfast International Airport was known as Aldergrove Airport until 1983, named after the nearby village of Aldergrove, County Antrim. The airport has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence, which allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. It is the busiest airport in Northern Ireland and the 10th busiest airport in the UK by passenger traffic. In 2024, the airport welcomed over 6.7 million passengers, a record number.
The first scheduled passenger service was started in 1933 by Midland & Scottish Air Ferries. This service included two daily flights between Aldergrove and Renfrew Airport in Glasgow. During World War II, Aldergrove remained an RAF station, and a works programme was undertaken to replace the existing runways with two new long paved runways, forming the basis of the airport's layout today.
Belfast International Airport has four car parks, three on-site and one off-site. The airport can be reached by car from Belfast via the M2 motorway, and the nearest railway station is Antrim, 10 kilometres away.
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Belfast City Airport is in County Down
Belfast City Airport, officially known as George Best Belfast City Airport, is located in County Down, Northern Ireland. The airport is adjacent to the Belfast Harbour and is three miles (five kilometres) from Belfast City Centre. It is also known as the "Heart of Belfast".
Belfast City Airport began its commercial operations in 1983 and was known as Belfast Harbour Airport, before becoming Belfast City Airport, and then taking its current name in 2006 in memory of George Best, the professional footballer from Belfast. The airport has a CAA public use aerodrome licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.
Belfast City Airport is a single-runway airport and shares its site with the Short Brothers/Bombardier (now Spirit AeroSystems) aircraft-making area. The airport is a major base for Flybe, which began services in 1993 and is now the largest operator at Belfast City. In 2010, the airport saw a record total of over 2.7 million passengers, though this fell by 12.5% to 2.4 million in 2011. As of February 2024, six airlines operate 30 routes across the UK and Europe from Belfast City Airport.
Belfast City Airport offers a range of services and facilities for travellers, including restaurants, cafes, and shops in the departures lounge. The airport also provides extra assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, hidden disabilities, and impairments. Additionally, car rental services are available on-site, and the airport can be easily accessed by car, bus, or taxi.
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Transport to Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is located 13.2 miles northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is easily accessible by car, bus, and taxi.
Car
Travellers can reach the airport from Belfast via the M2 motorway. The airport operates four car parks, three on-site and one off-site. The on-site short-stay and main car parks are within walking distance of the terminal building, and a courtesy bus operates to and from the on-site long-stay car park. The off-site car park, called 'Park and Fly', is located just before the main airport entrance and is also serviced by a courtesy bus.
Bus
The airport is accessible by bus from various locations in Northern Ireland. Translink operates an express bus service 300 to the airport from Belfast Grand Central, running 24 hours a day and every 15 minutes at peak times. The Airport Express 300 is also available from Templepatrick, departing approximately 7 minutes after the airport departure times. Translink also offers bus connections to Antrim railway station, and the 109A bus service operates from Lisburn Bus Centre. The Ulsterbus 109A/D service is available for rail users north of Antrim connecting to/from Antrim Buscentre, which is situated next to Antrim Train Station. Tickets for the Ulsterbus service can be purchased for £2.20 as an add-on to a paper ticket to/from certain stations.
Taxi
Taxis are available to and from the airport.
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Transport to Belfast City Airport
Belfast City Airport (BHD) is located just 5 minutes from Belfast city centre. The airport is easily accessible by train, bus, car, and taxi.
By Train
If you are travelling to Belfast City Airport via train, you will want to disembark at Sydenham rail halt and make the short journey by foot along the Sydenham Bypass to the terminal building. Train services depart from Sydenham train station regularly during peak times, connecting you to the city centre. Do note that there is a footbridge at Sydenham train station that passengers must cross. Thus, this transport option may not be suitable for those with reduced mobility or difficulty using steps. You can purchase tickets from the train conductor using cash, debit or credit card, or download the mLink App to purchase a ticket online. A courtesy bus to Sydenham Halt is available on request.
By Bus
Translink operates an express bus service 300 to the airport from Belfast Grand Central. This runs 24 hours a day, every 15 minutes at peak times. Translink Airport Express buses are low floor and accessible for wheelchair users. The vehicles are also equipped with audio-visual screens and sound to assist those with hearing or sight impairments. The £2.20 Airlink ticket allows rail passengers (north of Antrim) to connect to the Ulsterbus Belfast International Airport service 109A.
By Car
Travellers by car can reach the airport from Belfast via the M2 motorway. The airport operates four car parks, three on-site, and one off-site. The on-site short-stay and main car parks are within walking distance of the terminal building, and an on-demand courtesy bus operates to and from the on-site long-stay car park. The off-site car park, called 'Park and Fly', is located just before the main airport entrance and is also serviced by a courtesy bus.
By Taxi
Belfast City Airport offers an on-site taxi rank and booking office for seamless airport transfers. Taxi services provide a range of vehicles, including standard taxis, wheelchair-accessible taxis, multi-seat people carriers, and non-branded executive transportation.
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History of Belfast's airports
Belfast has two airports: George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport.
George Best Belfast City Airport
Belfast City Airport is an international airport in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is situated in County Down, adjacent to the Belfast Harbour, and is three miles (five kilometres) from Belfast City Centre. The airport shares its site with the Spirit AeroSystems aircraft manufacturing facility.
The airport began commercial operations in 1983 as Belfast Harbour Airport, and was known as Belfast City Airport until it was renamed in 2006 in memory of George Best, a professional footballer from Belfast. However, the airfield at Sydenham, where the airport is located, was established by Shorts in 1937 and opened in 1938. It was requisitioned by the RAF as RAF Belfast in 1941, then transferred to the Royal Navy, becoming HMS Gadwall in 1943.
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is an international airport 11.5 NM (21.3 km; 13.2 mi) northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is the main airport for the city of Belfast and the busiest in Northern Ireland.
The airport was originally called Aldergrove Airport, after the nearby village of Aldergrove, County Antrim, and was Northern Ireland's civil airport by 1934. During the Second World War, Aldergrove remained an RAF station, and in 1946, it replaced Nutts Corner Airport as Northern Ireland's main airport. The first passenger flight to land at Aldergrove was a BEA Viscount from Manchester. In 1963, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother reopened Aldergrove as a civil airport and inaugurated the present terminal building. The airport became officially known as Belfast International in the early 1980s.
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Frequently asked questions
Belfast City Airport, officially George Best Belfast City Airport, is in County Down.
Belfast International Airport is in County Antrim.
No, they are two different airports. Belfast International Airport is the main airport for the city of Belfast and is located 11.5 NM (21.3 km; 13.2 mi) northwest of the city.
