Belfast International Airport (BFS) is Northern Ireland's principal airport. It was formerly called Aldergrove Airport due to its proximity to Aldergrove in the County Antrim. Nonetheless, the terminal building is closer to the villages of Killead and Killealy.
The airport is situated 13 miles northwest of Belfast, near Lough Neagh. Not to be mistaken with George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) which is practically in the heart of the city.
Although Belfast Airport doesn’t host many airlines, the amount of routes they offer is sufficiently big to call it an important regional hub for domestic and international travel.
In 2024, Belfast Airport served a little under 7 million passengers, ranking it the 10th busiest in the UK.
Major Airlines - easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair
As of 2025, Newcastle Airport is served by just 4 airlines, for all of which it also acts as a focus city.
easyJet: The airline with by far the most flights at BFS. The British low-cost giant offers a wide array of routes across the British Isles and Europe.
Jet2.com: Offers mostly flights to holiday destinations in Spain and seasonal flights to more seaside and cultural hotspots in Europe.
Ryanair: Flies to many destinations in the UK and Europe.
TUI Airways: Offers only seasonal flights to seaside holiday destinations like Antalya, Cancun, and Punta Cana.
Between them, these airlines offer non-stop flights to over 60 destinations across Europe. See all destinations from BFS here.
Terminal Building
Belfast International Airport features a single terminal spread over 2 floors.
The Arrivals hall and check-in desks are located on the ground floor, whereas the first floor holds the Departures hall.
Due to how compact it is, you only need to arrive an hour before domestic flights and 2 hours before international flights. However, in the peak summer months or during school holidays when many flights depart during the day, it’s advisable to go well in advance of your flight.
Discover the best things to do in Belfast.
Wi-Fi at Belfast Airport
Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal.
You can connect by selecting the airport's network named “Belfast Airport (BFS)”. Note that the connection is limited to 2 hours.
Restaurants and bars at Belfast Airport
Belfast Airport is not very big and your choice of dining options there is limited. Nevertheless, you should be able to find a place to eat or drink depending on your taste.
Here are some of the restaurants, bars, and fast food options at BFS:
The Lagan Bar: An informal pub-style bar located in the Departures Area. It offers a selection of beers, wines, and classic British dishes, but most importantly of all - shows sports games on big TVs in the dining area.
Burger King: A popular fast-food chain for burgers and fries, located in the main terminal area. Now with self-service kiosks, a quick meal is indeed very quick.
Caffè Ritazza: A café serving fresh coffee and quick refreshments with one outlet in the check-in hall and another in the arrivals hall.
Fed & Watered: Offers a menu of many options with locally sourced ingredients. Find in the Departures Lounge.
Sip & Stone: Offers beers, wines, and coffee drinks plus an all-day kitchen menu.
Hawker Asian street food: You’re probably not traveling to Asia, so why not construct your own meal at the Hawker Center inside the Northern Quarter of SFO?
Lounges at Belfast Airport
Belfast Airport has only 1 lounge: the Causeway Lounge. You can find it just past the tax-free shopping area, close to all boarding gates.
It is accessible to all passengers regardless of airline or ticket type for a fee or through specific membership programs.
The Causeway Lounge offers complimentary food and drinks (including fresh coffee and tea and an open bar), high-speed Wi-Fi, TVs, and newspapers.
It’s open from 5 AM until 8 PM except on Saturday when it closes at 6 PM. The entrance fee is 27.50 GBP for adults and 15 GBP for children.
Ground transport to and from Belfast Airport
The road distance from Belfast to Belfast International Airport is around 16-18 miles in the northwest direction. The city and the airport are connected by various forms of public and private transport.
Here are your options:
Bus: Translink operates an express bus service 300 to the airport from Belfast's Europa Buscentre. This runs 24 hours a day, every 15 minutes at peak times. A single ticket costs 9.50 GBP; A return ticket within a month costs 13.50 GBP. The journey time is about 30-40 minutes.
You can also take the Airport Express 300 bus from the airport to Templepatrick.
Additionally, Ulsterbus 109A operates between Lisburn Rail Station, Belfast Airport, and Antrim Buscentre.The Airporter: The 705X service travels 13 times daily directly between the airport and Derry / Londonderry.
Taxis: Licensed taxi services are available outside the terminal, as you exit through the right-hand side. The official operator is Belfast Airport Taxis. A list of sample prices by destination is displayed in the exit hall. A trip to Belfast costs 40-50 GBP.
Rideshare: Book via the respective rideshare company’s app. You will receive the designated pick-up location during the booking process.
If you are going to the airport by car from Belfast, take the M2 northbound, then turn into the A57 and drive until you reach the Airport. See below for parking options.
If you want to hire a car at the airport, you can do so from one of the 5 companies that have kiosks in the arrival hall. Booking in advance is recommended.
See private transfer options from Belfast Airport.
Parking at Belfast Airport
Belfast Airport provides various parking options for different needs and intended duration of stay. Generally, you have a choice between the Main Car Park, a short-term and a long-term option, and the budget-friendly Park&Fly.
Main Car Park: Ideal for business trips or if you are only leaving for a short break and just 2-3 minutes from the Terminal building. An hour of stay costs 4 GBP whereas the first day of parking costs 35 GBP.
Short Stay Car Park: Ideal for short stays of no more than a few hours, for example, to pick up arriving friends. It’s only 1-2 minutes from the terminal. The hourly rate is 4 GBP with the first day maxed at 35 GBP.
Long Stay Parking: Ideal for stays longer than 3 days. It’s only 5 minutes from the terminal building. This is also the only place to park for free - at least for the first 15 minutes. The first-day fee is 30 GBP. The second and third days cost 20 GBP more each, and every day thereafter costs 10 GBP. Booking in advance can save you up to 60% of the parking fare.
Park & Fly: Another long-stay parking option and the cheapest place to park for longer periods. Situated a bit further from the terminal but connected by a shuttle. Booking is mandatory and 3 days is the minimum stay.
There also exists a Premium car park with wider spaces and full LED lighting.
Lastly, for very quick drop-offs, you can use the Drop Off Zone which is directly adjacent to the terminal building. The first 10 minutes cost 3 GBP and up to 60 minutes the fare is only 10 GBP. Anything above that will incur a fee of 50 GBP though.
Hotels near Belfast Airport
There is one hotel located on the airport’s premises, just a short 2-minute walk from the terminal: the Maldron Hotel Belfast International Airport. This hotel provides modern and stylish guestrooms plus leisure amenities and business facilities. The complimentary car parking and the Grain & Grill Bar are all the more reasons to pick it, especially if you need to be close to Belfast Airport.
A little bit outside the airport is the Ballyrobin Country Lodge. Its boutique rooms and countryside ambiance coupled with the serene location make for a guaranteed very pleasant stay.
Belfast, United Kingdom
No
