George Best Belfast City Airport Explained

George Best Belfast City Airport should not be confused with Belfast International Airport.

George Best Belfast City Airport
Image2-Width:250
Iata:BHD
Icao:EGAC
Type:Public
Owner:3i Group plc (3i)
Operator:Belfast City Airport Ltd.
City-Served:Belfast
Location:County Down
Elevation-F:15
Elevation-M:5
Coordinates:54.6181°N -5.8725°W
Pushpin Map:United Kingdom Greater Belfast#UK Northern Ireland#Island of Ireland#United Kingdom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Greater Belfast##Location in Northern Ireland##Location on the island of Ireland##Location in the United Kingdom
Pushpin Label:EGAC
R1-Number:04/22
R1-Length-F:6,001
R1-Length-M:1,829
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Metric-Rwy:Yes
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:2,115,153
Stat-Year:2023
Footnotes:Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]
Stat2-Header:Passenger change 22-23
Stat2-Data:27.8%
Stat3-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat3-Data:29,282
Stat4-Header:Movements change 22-23
Stat4-Data:15.7%

George Best Belfast City Airport is a single-runway airport in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Situated in County Down, it is adjacent to the Belfast Harbour[1] and is 3miles from Belfast City Centre. It shares the site with the Spirit AeroSystems (formerly Short Brothers/Bombardier) aircraft manufacturing facility. The airport began commercial operations in 1983, and was known as "Belfast City Airport" until it was renamed in 2006 in memory of George Best, the professional footballer from Belfast. The airport has a CAA public use aerodrome licence (number P862) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.

As of February 2024, 6 airlines operate 30 routes across the UK and Europe from Belfast City Airport.[3] In 2023, the airport handled over 2.1 million passengers, having peaked at 2.7 million in 2010.[2] The airport serves as a regional base for Aer Lingus and British Airways who are the largest operators there. Ground handling is provided by Swissport[4] and Menzies Aviation,[5] the latter also offering cargo handling services.

History

Early years

Sydenham Airport was established by Shorts beside its Belfast factory at Sydenham in 1937. It was opened on 16 March 1938 by Anne Chamberlain, the wife of then British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. The inaugural flight was to Glasgow, Scotland.[6] This became Belfast's main civilian airport from 1938 to 1939. The airfield was requisitioned by the RAF as RAF Belfast in 1941, then transferred to the Royal Navy, becoming HMS Gadwall (also known as RNAS Belfast or RNAS Sydenham) in 1943.[7] RAF Nutts Corner then became Belfast's main airport (while Aldergrove would later become the primary airport in Northern Ireland).

In 1952, the runway was extended to its present 6000feet. The airfield at Sydenham continued to be used for military purposes until the 1970s (reverting to RAF Belfast in 1973 and closing in 1978),[8] including a period of use by the Fleet Air Arm as a naval aircraft storage unit. After this, it was used solely by Shorts.

In 1983, following interest from airlines and customers, the airfield was opened for commercial flights as Belfast Harbour Airport (subsequently Belfast City Airport and then with its current name). Its IATA airport code BHD refers to Belfast Harbour and to its location in County Down.[9] [10] Jersey European began operations at the airport in 1988. At the time of its demise in 2020, the airline - by then called Flybe - operated a large base from the airport.[11]

Development from 2000 to 2019

A new terminal was officially opened on 3 June 2001. Following major capital investment Bombardier sold the airport in 2003 for £35 million to the Spanish company Ferrovial,[12] the owner of BAA Airports. Ferrovial re-sold the airport in September 2008 for £132.5 million to ABN Amro Global Infrastructure Fund.[13]

In March 2006, it was announced that the airport would be renamed in memory of Northern Irish footballer George Best. The new name, George Best Belfast City Airport, and signage were revealed at the renaming ceremony attended by Best's family and friends on 22 May 2006, which would have been Best's 60th birthday.[14] The renaming of the airport caused controversy, with many articles in local and national print media highlighting the mixed feelings of Belfast residents.[15] Also in March 2006 Flybe announced that it would be naming its Belfast City – Manchester service after the footballer, dedicating a plane to him.

In October 2007 Ryanair established its 23rd base at the airport, operating five routes and carrying 800,000 annual passengers. The airline closed its Belfast City base in 2010 due to delays in the planned runway extension. The airline stated that would fly to European destinations from the airport if the runway was extended.[16]

In January 2010 easyJet commenced flights to London Luton, though the airline moved the route back to Belfast International in 2011.

Manx2 moved its Isle of Man service to the airport in 2010, however the airline has since ceased operations.

In January 2011 Bmibaby moved its Belfast base to the airport, in order to keep its operation under one roof with sister airline BMI.[17] The airline ceased operations from Belfast City Airport in June 2012.

In October 2012 Aer Lingus moved its services from Belfast International to the airport. The airline launched flights to five destinations, though it has since reduced their operations to just one route.[18] Spanish carrier Vueling launched summer-seasonal flights to Barcelona in May 2015, though the route was cancelled in late 2015.[19] Dutch carrier KLM launched daily flights to Amsterdam in 2015, with flights operated by KLM Cityhopper.[20] Brussels Airlines launched flights to Brussels in 2016, though the airline axed the route in 2017.[21] In early 2017, Eastern Airways commenced flights to the Isle of Man following the demise of Citywing, though the airline axed the route in 2018. Icelandic carrier Air Iceland Connect commenced flights to Keflavik in 2017 on behalf of Icelandair, though the route was cancelled in 2018.[22] Scottish airline Loganair commenced operations to Carlisle in 2019, followed by Dundee in 2020.[23]

2020 to present

Flybe, which operated 80% of flights at the airport, and carried over 1.6 million passengers across 14 routes, ceased operations in March 2020.[24] Subsequently, Loganair commenced flights to Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Inverness,[25] while Eastern Airways commenced flights to Cardiff and Southampton. In addition, British Airways subsidiary BA Cityflyer commenced flights to London City during 2020.[26]

In August 2020, Aer Lingus subsidiary Aer Lingus Regional established a new base at the airport, operating five aircraft to six UK destinations. In June 2021, Aer Lingus Regional operator Stobart Air ceased operations,[27] leading to the cancellation of all Aer Lingus Regional flights. Aer Lingus and British Airways commenced flights to the majority of Aer Lingus Regional's destinations from Belfast City Airport.[28]

Ryanair resumed flying from the airport after a hiatus of around 11 years, on 1 June 2021,[29] but announced in late August 2021 that it would withdraw from Northern Ireland altogether in September 2021, in protest at the UK's Air Passenger Duty, and the lack of post-Covid incentives for airlines.[30]

In March 2022, Emerald Airlines,[31] the new operator of Aer Lingus Regional flights, announced that they would be opening a base at the airport. Initially with a base of three ATR-72-600 aircraft, Emerald plan on serving six UK destinations from March 24, 2022 under the Aer Lingus brand,[32] with Aer Lingus itself operating the London Heathrow route.

On the 16 March 2022, the new Flybe announced that the airport would become their second operating base following their spring relaunch, with flights going on sale the following week.[33] The base was closed in January 2023 when Flybe 2.0 went into administration.[34]

In October 2022, it was announced that Aer Lingus operations between Belfast City and London Heathrow would transfer to Aer Lingus UK due to Brexit related requirements that a European carrier could no longer fly domestic routes within the United Kingdom. These flights are operated by British Airways under Wet-Lease terms using the Aer Lingus UK flight numbers and callsigns. This currently does not affect the operations carried out by Emerald Airlines from Belfast City as an agreement is currently in place between the UK CAA, British Airways and themselves prior to Emerald Airlines securing a UK AOC.[35] [36]

Expansion plans and objections

As the airport is adjacent to residential areas, the issue of noise pollution is a major source of public debate. The airport has developed a noise management strategy following the making of a planning agreement, under which the airport operates, and has established operational noise abatement procedures.

The airport applied for a complete removal of the limit on the seats it could sell in 2013[37] – a key element of the 1997 planning agreement, which was designed to guard against over-expansion. As a result, numerous residents' groups formed a coalition – The Coalition Against Belfast City Airport Expansion[38] – to protest against the airport's proposed expansion plans, and to represent the views of residents at the Examination in Public held during 2006.[37]

Restrictions applied to the airport include:

Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Belfast City Airport:[3]

Statistics

Traffic figures

Year!Number of passengers[43] Number of movements[44] Freight
(tonnes)
19971,285,712 37,592 1,247
19981,316,792 37,917 1,149
19991,284,148 35,781 773
20001,288,428 36,773 820
20011,192,897 35,158 509
20021,896,081 40,027 1,058
20031,975,202 34,523 1,177
20042,091,221 36,290 955
20052,237,219 40,443 516
20062,105,769 39,411 827
20072,186,993 43,022 1,057
20082,570,742 42,990 168
20092,621,763 39,330 138
20102,740,341 40,324 155
20112,397,312 41,844 457
20122,246,202 37,189 581
20132,541,759 38,051 527
20142,555,145 37,112 491
20152,692,71341,782 551
20162,665,13942,475 476
20172,559,84636,332 317
20182,510,29435,959 227
20192,445,52934,625 196
2020542,54710,359 49
2021812,42412,819
20221,655,16425,308
20232,115,15329,282

Busiest routes

10 busiest routes to and from Belfast City (2023)[45]
Rank Airport Total
passengers
Change
2022 / 23
Airline(s)
1align='right'564,018 5.8%British Airways
2align='right'235,493 42.4%easyJet
3align='right'171,514 54.8%Aer Lingus, easyJet
4align='right'146,122 3.9%Aer Lingus
5align='right'132,133 8.7%British Airways
6align='right'116,994 38.8%Aer Lingus
7align='right'115,405 174.4%easyJet
8align='right'113,405 19.4%Aer Lingus
9align='right'103,076 61.4%Aer Lingus, easyJet
10align='right'79,810 31.7%Aer Lingus

Ground transport

Rail

Sydenham railway station is adjacent to the southern perimeter of the airport, across the A2 from the old passenger terminal. It is served by frequent Northern Ireland Railways trains between Bangor and Portadown. Trains towards Portadown call at the Belfast Lanyon Place and Belfast Grand Central stations. With the construction of the new passenger terminal further northeast, passengers arriving or departing by train can request an airport courtesy bus to take them to or from the terminal.

Car

The airport is located on the A2, Sydenham by-pass road between Belfast and Holywood.

Bus

Translink Metro route 600 is the Belfast City Airlink service, from the terminal to the Belfast Grand Central . Buses run every thirty minutes throughout the day. In addition Metro bus 3A operates every ten minutes from Sydenham to Belfast City Hall. As of 2014, The Airporter service operated 12 coach services to the airport on weekdays, five coaches on Saturdays and eight coaches on Sundays to Derry.[46]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=19&Itemid=74.html Belfast/City – EGAC
  2. Web site: Aircraft and passenger traffic data from UK airports . . 16 March 2018 . 16 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170211070518/http://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/ . 11 February 2017 . live .
  3. Web site: Airlines and Routes . 6 June 2021.
  4. Web site: Swissport International Ltd. - Network. 24 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203945/http://www.swissport.com/network/network-detail/?busiId=767&cHash=25855718dfee4899da7ff3c582f8d934. 24 January 2019. live.
  5. Web site: Menzies Aviation - Network. 4 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150507200442/http://www.menziesaviation.com/network/list/p/16/ref/Network. 7 May 2015.
  6. Web site: Belfast City Airport - History About Us Belfast City Airport. www.belfastcityairport.com. 23 October 2019. 23 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191023205914/https://www.belfastcityairport.com/About-Us/History.aspx. dead.
  7. Web site: Royal Navy in World War II. 2021-08-12. History Hub Ulster. en-US.
  8. Web site: RN Air Station Belfast - Regiment History, War & Military Records & Archives. 2021-08-12. www.forces-war-records.co.uk.
  9. Web site: The Origin and Development of the Ports of the United Kingdom. Sir David John. Owen. 23 May 1948. Allman. Google Books.
  10. Book: Heck, André. StarBriefs: A Dictionary of Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols in Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Related Fields : March 1992. 23 May 1992. Observatoire Astronomique. 9782908064179 . Google Books.
  11. Web site: Belfast City bounces back. 2021-05-28. www.key.aero. 24 December 2020 . en.
  12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2932246.stm Spanish firm secures Northern Ireland Airport
  13. Web site: Belfast City Airport - News | Recent Stories | Belfast City Airport. https://web.archive.org/web/20090506212918/http://www.belfastcityairport.com/About-Us/News/AIRPORT-SALE.aspx. dead. 6 May 2009. www.belfastcityairport.com.
  14. News: Best family proud of airport name . BBC News . 19 December 2011 . 22 May 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080429112649/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/5002166.stm . 29 April 2008 . live .
  15. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=447492006 'George Best Airport' splits city
  16. News: Ryanair to pull out of Belfast City Airport . BBC News . 31 August 2010 . 20 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181110144312/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-11139463 . 10 November 2018 . live .
  17. News: Bmibaby reveals seven new Belfast City Airport routes . BBC News . 13 April 2011 . 1 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202033715/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13062882 . 2 December 2018 . live .
  18. News: Aer Lingus confirms George Best Belfast City Airport switch . BBC News . 19 July 2012 . 1 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190129004526/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18899093 . 29 January 2019 . live .
  19. News: Vueling Airlines launches Belfast to Spain flights . Belfasttelegraph . 1 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202070440/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/travel/vueling-airlines-launches-belfast-to-spain-flights-31203574.html . 2 December 2018 . live .
  20. News: George Best Belfast City Airport: KLM to establish Amsterdam service . BBC News . 6 January 2015 . 1 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202025317/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30699130 . 2 December 2018 . live .
  21. News: Belfast City Airport: Brussels Airlines ends service . BBC News . 31 January 2017 . 1 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202030530/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-38812700 . 2 December 2018 . live .
  22. News: Icelandair suspends Belfast flights for 'commercial reasons' . Belfasttelegraph . 1 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181202070522/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/icelandair-suspends-belfast-flights-for-commercial-reasons-36612138.html . 2 December 2018 . live .
  23. Web site: Passenger flights return to Carlisle airport after 25 years . BBC News . 4 March 2019 . 4 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190306051505/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-47438607 . 6 March 2019 . live .
  24. News: BBC News Online. Collapsed Flybe: 'Do not travel to the airport'. 5 March 2020.
  25. News: Scottish airline Loganair takes two Flybe routes. BBC News. 5 March 2020.
  26. Web site: British Airways to launch London City-Belfast City route. Business Traveller.
  27. News: Aer Lingus stops most Belfast City Airport flights after Stobart Air collapse. BBC News. 12 June 2021.
  28. Web site: George Best Belfast City Airport.
  29. News: Davenport . Fionn . Ryanair to Serve Europe from Belfast City Airport . 25 August 2021 . ITTN Ireland . 1 June 2021.
  30. News: Canning . Margaret . Ryanair pulls out of Northern Ireland as it ends flights from Belfast airports . 25 August 2021 . The Belfast Telegraph . 24 August 2021.
  31. https://www.emeraldairlines.com/article/on-sale-now-belfast-and-beyond-from-36-99-each-way---aer-lingus-regional-services-from-belfast-city-airport-to-6-cities-in-great-britain Aer Lingus Regional Services from Belfast City Airport to 6 cities in Great Britain
  32. Web site: Aer Lingus Regional operation to relaunch at Belfast City Airport in three weeks. 5 March 2022.
  33. Web site: Flybe to go on Sale Tuesday, March 22nd; Airline selects Belfast City Airport as its Second Base. 16 March 2022. Flybe.
  34. Web site: Flybe: Regional carrier ceases trading and cancels all flights. 28 January 2023. BBC.
  35. Web site: Aer Lingus leasing in BA capacity for UK domestic route . 2023-01-14 . ch-aviation . en.
  36. Web site: Flightradar24 . Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map . 2023-01-14 . Flightradar24 . en.
  37. Web site: Examination in Public – Belfast City Airport Planning Agreement. 4 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20130522212159/http://bcaagreementeippanel.com/. 22 May 2013. dead.
  38. https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/G1819 Belfast City Airport Watch
  39. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions . George Best Belfast City Airport . 11 November 2023.
  40. Web site: Belfast City Airport curbs to be relaxed . 2 September 2008 . 8 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120507172250/http://www.uk-airport-news.info/belfast-airport-news-020908a.htm . 7 May 2012 .
  41. Web site: Belfast City Airport - Statistics . 8 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090215194608/http://belfastcityairport.com/Airport-Information/Statistics.aspx . 15 February 2009 . dead .
  42. Web site: Belfast City Airport - George Best Belfast City Airport. belfastcityairport.com. 29 July 2020. 29 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729095714/http://belfastcityairport.com/About-Us/Environment/Noise-Management.aspx%7B%7Bdead+link%7Cdate=November+2017+%7Cbot=InternetArchiveBot+%7Cfix-attempted=yes+%7D%7D. dead.
  43. Number of Passengers, Freight and Mail include both domestic and international counterparts.
  44. Number of Movements represents total air transport takeoffs and landings during that year.
  45. Web site: Airport Data 2022 . 21 March 2023 . UK Civil Aviation Authority . Tables 12.1(XLS) and 12.2 (XLS) . 23 March 2023 .
  46. Web site: Airporter Winter Timetable - Valid from 26th October 2014 . Airporter . 4 June 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140928015322/http://www.airporter.co.uk/derry-to-belfast-timetable-winter-2013.html . 28 September 2014 .