Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport Belfast/Aldergrove Airport
IATA: BFS – ICAO: EGAA
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		TBI plc
Operator		Belfast International Airport Ltd.
Serves		Belfast
Location		Aldergrove, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Hub for		Aer Lingus
Elevation AMSL		268 ft / 82 m
Coordinates		54°39′27″N 006°12′57″W
Website		www.belfastairport.com
Map
EGAA Location in Northern Ireland
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	m	ft
07/25	2,780	9,121	Asphalt
17/35	1,891	6,204	Asphalt
Statistics (2011)
Passengers			4,103,620
Passenger change 10-11			2.2%
Aircraft Movements			57,460
Movements change 10-11			5.4%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority

Belfast International Airport (IATA: BFS, ICAO: EGAA) is a major airport located 11.5 NM (21.3 km; 13.2 mi) northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was formerly known and is still referred to as Aldergrove Airport, after the village of the same name lying immediately to the west of the airport. Belfast International shares its runways with the Royal Air Force base RAF Aldergrove, which otherwise has its own facilities.

Around 4.1 million passengers travelled through the airport in 2011, a 2.2% increase on 2010. Belfast International is the busiest airport in Northern Ireland and the second busiest airport on the island of Ireland in terms of passenger numbers after Dublin Airport, and is followed by Belfast-City, Cork and Shannon.

The airport is owned by Abertis, the same company which owns Stockholm Skavsta and Cardiff Airport and is concessionary to Orlando Sanford International Airport and London Luton.

Belfast International has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P798) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction. The airport's rather distant location compared to Belfast-City means that the airport operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is not subject to noise abatement procedures, significant environmental constraints or airspace limitations.^{[citation needed]}

History

The airport lies within the parish of Killead, between the small villages of Killead (to the east) and Aldergrove (to the west).

1917-1945

The site for the airport was established in 1917 when it was selected to be a Royal Flying Corps training establishment during the First World War. The airport remained open at the end of the war for RAF activity.

Civil traffic began in 1922 when flights were conducted flying newspapers from Chester, and a regular civil air service started in 1933. The flight was to Glasgow and was operated by Midland and Scottish Air Ferries. This was subsequently augmented by flights to the Isle of Man, Liverpool and Croydon, then London’s airport.

During the Second World War, Aldergrove remained an RAF base particularly for the Coastal Command. So that the airport could accommodate larger, long-range aircraft, a major works programme was undertaken to replace the four existing runways with two new long paved runways, thereby forming the basis of the layout that still exists at the airport today.

1946-1970

One of the outcomes of the wartime airfield construction programme was the building of Nutts Corner Airport, just 3 mi (4.8 km) from Aldergrove. On 1 December 1946, the new site replaced Belfast Harbour Airport (now George Best Belfast City Airport) as Northern Ireland’s civil airport, as the site at Sydenham was considered unsuitable.

By the 1950s civil air traffic had outstripped the facilities at Nutts Corner and, in addition, aircraft were being regularly diverted to Aldergrove because of adverse weather conditions. In July 1959 the decision was made to move civil flights to Aldergrove to take advantage of the large airfield and this took place in October 1963.

A new terminal and apron were built with the necessary passenger facilities and the complex was opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother on 28 October 1963. In 1966 the first regular jet service to London-Gatwick started and in 1968 Aer Lingus and BOAC introduced scheduled services to New York City via Shannon and Glasgow-Prestwick respectively.

1971-1997

In 1971 Northern Ireland Airports Limited was formed to operate and develop the airport and its facilities. A major programme of airfield upgrades was undertaken resulting in improvements to runways, taxiways and the parking apron.

A new International Pier was built together with lounge facilities and car parks, while an additional apron was provided to separate the smaller general aviation aircraft from large commercial jets. In the meantime, British Airways launched the first Belfast to Heathrow shuttle service, and the first Boeing 747 operated from the airport on a charter service to Toronto via Shannon. The first scheduled service to a European city was started by NLM Cityhopper (now KLM Cityhopper) flying to Amsterdam.

In 1983 the airport, renamed Belfast International, was regularly accommodating the largest civil aircraft in service, and with the installation of new technology was capable of all weather operations. In 1985 passenger numbers reached 1.5 million and BMI went into competition with British Airways on the Heathrow service. Further developments to the terminal occurred throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. A new Executive Aviation Terminal was opened in 1987 and the new cargo centre opened in 1991.

The airport was privatised in 1994. TBI became the new owners of the airport on 13 August 1996, by which time annual passenger numbers had reached 2.5 million.

1998 to date

A Continental Airlines Boeing 757. As of April 2009 this jetway has been replaced with a new one. All Continental flights are now United flights.

In 1998 EasyJet started operations from the airport with flights to London Luton. Since then the airline has established a large base at Belfast International and a further eleven domestic routes and twelve direct European scheduled routes have been added to the network, making the airline the largest user of the airport.

In 2005 Continental Airlines launched the first ever direct scheduled service to Newark, and direct scheduled services were later introduced to Vancouver with Zoom Airlines but have now ceased following the carrier's demise in August 2008.

In December 2007 Aer Lingus opened a base at Belfast International, its third hub (and first outside the Republic of Ireland). By March 2008 three Airbus A320 aircraft were based at the airport serving nine Aer Lingus routes from Belfast, and the airline has restored the link between Belfast International and London Heathrow Airport which was abandoned by British Airways.

Flyglobespan previously operated summer seasonal services to Orlando Sanford International Airport and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport. These routes ceased following the carrier's demise in December 2009.

Despite these additional flights, passengers at Belfast International did not rise beyond 6 million in 2008 as some had predicted but in fact fell by 10,000 passengers to 5.2 million.

Work has been completed within the airport to move the 'Central Search' area from its previous location, this is part of a bigger plan to increase the area for the main departure Lounge. In addition, as of June 2010 the airport's new drop off zone has been completed and implemented at the front of the complex. The airport has one jetway located on the international pier that allows speedy boarding. It is used on the Newark Service as well as other charter and high density services to mainland Europe and some transcontinental services. The single terminal is large and accommodates most aircraft. The terminal serves all destinations.

In January 2011, Bmibaby moved to George Best Belfast City Airport in order to keep its operation under one roof with sister company BMI. A few months later, easyJet announced that their London-Luton route would return to Belfast International and a route to Manchester would commence on 31 October 2011. In July 2011 easyJet announced their fourth London destination to London Southend.

Recently in late 2011 / early 2012 the airport has invested money into the infrastructure of the airport, this has included surface repairs on the apron, essential repair work under runway 25/07, reconfiguration of the exit hall for international arrivals and converting the domestic arrivals hall to an airside area, which is now complete. Resurfacing of the aircraft stands has begun, this will be the first major infrastructure improvement this year.

easyJet has now based their sixth aircraft (A319) at the airport for summer, this will be exchanged for an A320 during the peak summer travel. Aer Lingus currently has 3 aircraft based at the airport 2x A319 and 1x A320 although due to maintenance requirements sometimes there are 2x A320 and 1xA319

Airlines and destinations

Check in

An Air Transat A310 parked at the gate

One of the five EasyJet A319s based at Belfast, parked at the terminal

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Aegean Airlines	Chartered Seasonal: Heraklion [begins 28 May 2013], Larnaca, Rhodes [begins 16 June 2012]
Aer Lingus	Alicante, Lanzarote, London-Heathrow, Málaga, Tenerife-South Seasonal: Barcelona, Faro, Gran Canaria
Air Europa	Chartered Seasonal: Palma de Mallorca
Austrian Airlines operated by Tyrolean Airways	Chartered Seasonal: Innsbruck [restarts 22 December 2012]
Air VIA	Chartered Seasonal: Burgas [begins 23 June 2012]
BH Air	Chartered Seasonal: Burgas
EasyJet	Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Birmingham [begins 22 October 2012], Bristol, Edinburgh, Faro, Glasgow-International, Kraków, Liverpool, London-Gatwick, London-Luton, London-Southend, London-Stansted, Málaga, Malta, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Seasonal: Geneva, Ibiza, Nice, Palma de Mallorca Chartered Seasonal: Brescia-Montichiari, Verona
Jet2.com	Leeds/Bradford Seasonal: Alicante, Blackpool, Dubrovnik, Faro, Geneva, Ibiza, Jersey, Minorca, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Reus [begins 27 May 2013] Chartered Seasonal: Plovdiv
Thomas Cook Airlines	Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife-South Seasonal: Alicante, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Enfidha, Fuerteventura, Heraklion, Ibiza, Izmir, Larnaca, Lleida-Alguaire, Minorca, Orlando-Sanford, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Reus, Sharm El Sheikh
Thomson Airways	Seasonal: Bodrum, Burgas, Dalaman, Faro, Ibiza, Gran Canaria,Lanzarote, Málaga, Minorca, Palma de Mallorca, Reus, Tenerife-South
United Airlines	Newark

Cargo

Belfast International Airport is one of the most important regional airfreight centres in the UK, handling 48,000 tonnes (47,000 long tons; 53,000 short tons) of air cargo in 2008. BIA plays host to a long-established nightly Royal Mail operation. Fedex Feeder announced its base on the 8th November 2011, basing one ATR. The major cargo operators are:

Airlines	Destinations
DHL Express	East Midlands
Jet2.com	East Midlands
Loganair operated by Avion Express	Seasonal: Edinburgh (Royal Mail)
Maersk	London-Stansted
Titan Airways	Birmingham
FedEx Express	Paris-Charles de Gaulle
TNT Airways	East Midlands

Statistics

Domestic Scheduled Passengers by route in 2006.

  London Airports (1,102,531)

  Liverpool (475,256)

  Edinburgh (314,247)

  Glasgow (310,003)

  Bristol (242,941)

  Newcastle upon Tyne(230,438

  Manchester (179,718)

  Birmingham (176,141)

  East Midlands (165,989)

  Leeds Bradford (112,134)

  *Others (162,849)

Nearly 5.3 million passengers used Belfast International in 2007, the highest total in the airport's history, with total passenger numbers remaining relatively static during 2008 but declining sharply in 2009 to 4.5 million and again in 2010 to 4 million. Figures for 2011 indicate a small rise to 4.1 million. The airport is the busiest in Northern Ireland, having experienced steady growth in passenger numbers, aircraft movements and freight throughput over most of the last decade. Between 1997 and 2010 passenger numbers have increased by an average of 4.8% annually. Belfast International was the 2nd on the List of the busiest airports in Ireland and 13th busiest airport in the UK by passenger traffic in 2010, but the large freight volumes handled made it the 6th busiest freight airport in the UK during the period.

Number of Passengers Number of Movements Freight (tonnes) 1997 2,476,834 35,070 24,838 1998 2,671,848 38,976 25,275 1999 3,035,907 44,817 25,773 2000 3,147,670 41,256 30,599 2001 3,618,671 45,706 32,130 2002 3,576,785 38,453 29,474 2003 3,976,703 39,894 29,620 2004 4,407,413 43,373 32,148 2005 4,824,271 47,695 37,878 2006 5,038,692 48,412 38,417 2007 5,272,664 51,085 38,429 2008 5,262,354 55,000 36,115 2009 4,546,475 44,796 29,804 2010 4,016,170 40,324 29,716 2011 4,103,620 37,308 31,062 Source: United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority

Busiest international routes to and from Belfast International Airport (2011)

Rank	Airport	Passengers 2011	Passengers 2010	% Change 2010 / 11
1	Spain - Málaga	171,669	179,098	04.1
2	Spain - Palma de Mallorca	129,711	126,545	02.5
3	Portugal - Faro	126,689	145,386	12.9
4	Spain - Alicante	121,832	118,170	03.1
5	Netherlands - Amsterdam	99,035	89,909	10.2
6	United States - Newark	87,763	92,212	04.8
7	France - Paris Charles de Gaulle	85,810	90,109	04.8
8	Spain - Barcelona	82,443	85,367	03.4
9	Spain - Lanzarote	79,990	82,245	02.7
10	Spain - Tenerife South	77,678	85,272	08.9

Busiest domestic routes to and from Belfast International Airport (2011)

Rank	Airport	Passengers 2011	Passengers 2010	% Change 2010 / 11
1	Liverpool	422,595	329,368	0028.3
2	London Stansted	356,523	301,068	0018.4
3	London Gatwick	341,744	296,802	0015.1
4	London Heathrow	289,359	284,029	0001.9
5	Glasgow International	248,253	211,573	0017.3
6	Edinburgh	236,628	219,669	0007.7
7	Newcastle	180,490	172,655	0004.5
8	Bristol	179,616	150,153	0019.6
9	London Luton	144,451	3,257	4,335.1
10	Leeds Bradford	82,685	82,469	0000.3

Transport links

Road

Travellers by car from Belfast reach the airport via the M2 motorway.

Bus

Translink operates a 24 hour bus service to the airport from their Europa Buscentre, in the centre of Belfast. The airport can be reached from Derry and the northwest by the Airporter.

Train

The nearest railway station is the Antrim railway station which is 10 km (6.2 mi) from the airport in Antrim, and is serviced by a bus link called the Antrim Airlink (109 A). There are connections to Belfast, Lisburn and Derry/Londonderry. Trains to and from Dublin are via Belfast Central railway station, which has its own Airbus stop. A new station serving the airport could one day be constructed on the mothballed Lisburn-Antrim railway line as set out in the airport master plan. This line remains in serviceable condition and passes close to the airport terminal.

Accidents and incidents

• On 24 March 1996, Vickers Viscount G-OPFE of British World Airways was damaged beyond economic repair when it made a wheels-up landing.

• On 23 December 1997, a Maersk Air, Boeing 737 aircraft operated by British Airways and with 63 passengers and 6 crew on board was forced to return to the airport after a major failure in the starboard engine. The pilot was forced to declare an emergency and the aircraft thereafter returned to the airport safely on one engine. It was later found that an engine seal had failed causing the catastrophic failure of the starboard engine and slight damage to the engine cowling and under wing surface. The subsequent investigation uncovered design and manufacturing defects with the seals and led to the incorporation of new design seals in all future engines.

• On 31 October 2010, a bomb was found inside a Toyota Carina parked in the long-stay car park. Army bomb experts dismantled the bomb, however it is believed it failed to explode due to a possibility it had been in the car park since 2009, it was only discovered when workers were getting ready to tow the vehicle out of the car park. Many passengers had to spend the night in hotels or arrange alternative transport home as they were unable to get to their cars

External links

• Official website