--- iata: BHD name: George Best Belfast City Airport city: Belfast country: United Kingdom lastUpdated: '2026-09-01' officialWebsite: 'https://www.belfastcityairport.com/' sources: - 'https://www.belfastcityairport.com/' - 'https://www.belfastcityairport.com/FAQs' - 'https://www.belfastcityairport.com/To-and-From/Public-Transport' - 'https://www.belfastcityairport.com/Parking/Drop-Off-and-Pick-Up' - 'https://www.belfastcityairport.com/At-The-Airport/Lounge' - 'https://www.translink.co.uk/AirportServices' - >- https://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/consumers/help-consumers/travel-and-transport/air-travel/airport-parking-and-public-transport-costs - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-kingdom/george-best-belfast-city/bhd1-aspire-lounge - >- https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/uk-airport-data-2025/annual-2025/ - 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Best_Belfast_City_Airport' - >- https://www.belfastcityairport.com/getmedia/63424b55-ac19-4aa6-928e-7831006a7353/Performance-Statistics-January-2026.pdf quickFacts: - >- Sydenham harbour-side, about 3 miles / 5 km east of Belfast city centre (airport / UK AIP context); IATA BHD / ICAO EGAC; single passenger terminal; one asphalt runway 04/22 about 1,829 m / 6,000 ft — short-field ops and a published evening schedule window shape the network (no runway extension in Master Plan 2040 materials) - >- 2,363,781 terminal + transit passengers in calendar 2025 (UK CAA Table 09; −1.1% vs 2,391,124 in 2024) — terminal 2,363,716 / transit 65. Airport January 2026 performance PDF rounds 2025 passengers at 2,362,275. CAA Table 03.1 lists 28,635 total aircraft movements in 2025 (27,812 air-transport). Freight is negligible for a UK commercial field (CAA Table 13.2 series shows only a few tonnes) - >- Owned by a fund managed by 3i since 2017; operated as Belfast City Airport Ltd. Compact UK/Europe network — Aer Lingus Regional is typically the largest seat share, with easyJet, British Airways, KLM and Loganair also prominent on 2026 capacity snapshots (Aviation Week / airport route lists). Do not confuse with Belfast International (BFS / EGAA) at Aldergrove - >- Translink Airport Express 600 is the doorstep city bus to Belfast Grand Central Station (~10 minutes; about every 20 minutes at peaks per airport public-transport page). Sydenham NIR halt is a short walk / on-request courtesy bus (airport lists 07502 769748) — footbridge steps are a mobility caveat. Official taxi partner Value Cabs ranks at the terminal front - >- CT cabin-baggage screening (late-2024 upgrade): liquids/gels/pastes up to 2 litres and large electronics may stay in the bag; no clear plastics bag (airport FAQ). Fast Track Security is sold on the airport site. Free water dispenser in the Departures Lounge opposite Nero Express; free unlimited Wi-Fi - >- Aspire Lounge is the only passenger lounge — airside first floor after Duty Free / past Starbucks toward Gate 4. Priority Pass / LoungeKey / DragonPass + paid pre-book / walk-up (capacity managed; PP max stay 3 hours; no football shirts). Airport lounge page hours start daily at 05:00 with weekday closes around 19:30–20:30 and Saturday to 19:00 — confirm live because PP listings differ slightly by weekday bentoTips: - label: Transport title: Airport Express 600 to Grand Central in about 10 minutes detail: >- This is the close-in Belfast airport — not Aldergrove. The airport’s public-transport page points to Translink Airport Express 600 from the terminal forecourt to Belfast Grand Central Station in about 10 minutes, roughly every 20 minutes at peaks. Buy at the shelter TVMs, from the driver, or tap contactless where offered; Consumer Council public-transport cost guidance has listed an adult single cash fare around £2.30 for the City Airport bus — always confirm live in the Translink journey planner / mLink before travel. Sydenham rail halt serves the Bangor line toward Lanyon Place / Grand Central; the airport publishes an on-request courtesy bus (07502 769748) and warns that the halt footbridge has steps, so reduced mobility travellers usually prefer the 600 or a taxi. Value Cabs is the posted official taxi partner at the front rank. summary: >- Default public option is Translink 600 to Grand Central (~10 min); rail is Sydenham + possible courtesy bus. category: timing - label: Security title: CT lanes — up to 2 L liquids can stay in the bag detail: >- Airport FAQ (Oct 2025 Wayback capture of the live FAQs): liquids, creams, pastes, gels and aerosols up to 2 litres may stay in cabin baggage with no transparent bag required; large electronics likewise stay packed. Baby food / milk and liquid medicines have the usual documentary / screening caveats. Destination airports on the return may still enforce 100 ml — pack for the stricter end of the trip. Fast Track Security is sold on the airport website when you want a dedicated lane. Building hours on the FAQ: airport generally 04:00–22:00 with security from 05:00; closed Christmas Day. Scheduled flying is constrained by the planning agreement evening window (FAQ cites scheduled operations 06:30–21:30, with delayed flights only in exceptional cases toward 23:59). summary: >- Gen-3 / CT security with 2 L in-bag liquids; Fast Track is the paid lane; evening schedule window is real. category: terminal - label: Lounge title: Aspire Lounge upstairs past Duty Free / Starbucks detail: >- After security, stairs or escalator to the first floor, through Duty Free, past Starbucks — Aspire Lounge sits along the corridor by Gate 4 (airport + Priority Pass directions). Soft seating, buffet hot/cold food, soft drinks and standard bar for 18+, Wi-Fi, power, flight screens, soundproof booths, apron / skyline views. Priority Pass lists a 3-hour max stay, under-2s free, smart casual with no football shirts, and digital cards accepted. Airport lounge page publishes daily opens at 05:00 with closes that vary by weekday (Mon ~19:30; Tue–Thu ~20:30; Fri ~20:00; Sat ~19:00; Sun ~20:00 on the airport table — Priority Pass weekday closes differ slightly, so trust the door hours on the day). Pre-book on peaks; Aspire/PP both stress capacity management for network cards. summary: >- Sole lounge; PP / LoungeKey / DragonPass / paid; max stay typically 3 hours on PP. category: status - label: Drop-off title: Express kerb is £4 / 10 minutes — Long Stay still has 10 minutes free detail: >- Airport Drop Off & Pick Up page: Express Drop Off and Pick Up from £4.00 for the first ten minutes; Short Stay drive-up from £13.00 for up to one hour; Long Stay still offers ten minutes free (then £7.00 up to one hour) a short shuttle/walk from the terminal. Blue Badge holders get up to two hours free in Short Stay after validating ticket + badge at the Car Park Assistance Office (FAQ / parking pages). Re-entering Long Stay within 15 minutes can trigger an automatic minimum charge — read the barrier notices. Pre-booked parking products beat drive-up rates when you need longer stays. summary: >- Express £4 / 10 min; Long Stay 10 min free then £7 / hour; Blue Badge 2 h free in Short Stay with validation. category: timing lounges: - name: Aspire Lounge hours: >- Airport Aspire Lounge page: daily from 05:00 — Monday to ~19:30, Tuesday–Thursday to ~20:30, Friday to ~20:00, Saturday to ~19:00, Sunday to ~20:00. Priority Pass lists Mon 05:00–20:00, Tue/Wed 05:00–19:30, Thu 05:00–20:00, Fri 05:00–21:00, Sat 05:00–19:00, Sun 05:00–20:30; max stay typically 3 hours (PP). Confirm live hours at the door. access: - >- Priority Pass (digital card accepted; pre-book strongly advised; capacity managed) - LoungeKey / DragonPass where listed - Pre-booked paid entry via Aspire / airport booking partners - Walk-up payment at the door when space allows bestFor: - Priority Pass holders on Aer Lingus / BA / easyJet / KLM morning banks - >- Anyone wanting runway / Belfast skyline views and a quiet seat before a short hop - 'Early openers who clear security soon after 05:00' summary: >- Only full passenger lounge at BHD. Airside first floor after Duty Free / past Starbucks toward Gate 4. Hot and cold buffet, soft drinks, standard bar (18+), Wi-Fi, power, flight screens, soundproof booths, apron and skyline views. Small enough that network cards should pre-book on peaks. Smart casual; Priority Pass bans football shirts. Max stay typically 3 hours on PP. verdict: worth-it terminal: Main terminal (airside) amenities: - Hot and cold buffet snacks - Soft drinks and standard alcoholic drinks (18+) - Wi-Fi and charging points - Flight information screens - Soundproof booths - Runway / Belfast skyline views near Gate 4 waterOptions: - kind: free name: Departures Lounge water dispenser opposite Nero Express zone: airside summary: >- Airport FAQ: free water dispenser in the Departures Lounge opposite Nero Express. Bring an empty bottle through the CT lanes and refill here before boarding. location: After security — Departures Lounge opposite Nero Express terminal: Main terminal isBestValue: true - kind: purchase name: Landside / airside retail bottled water zone: landside price: Typically about £1.50–£2.50 for 500 ml summary: >- Buy a sealed bottle before security if you prefer not to hunt the dispenser, or grab one airside from café / retail units if you forgot an empty bottle. Free unlimited Wi-Fi is advertised on the FAQ — not a hydration substitute. location: WHSmith / café units landside before security and airside after Duty Free terminal: Main terminal airportistScore: 7.8 slug: bhd region: Europe --- > Markdown for [/airports/bhd](/airports/bhd). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/bhd) - [Lounge directory](/airports/bhd/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) Belfast, United Kingdom · Europe Harbour-side city airport three miles from centre — one tiny terminal, CT security (2 L liquids in-bag), Aspire Lounge by Gate 4, and Translink 600 to Grand Central in about 10 minutes. Short runway and evening schedule window limit long-haul and late flights; do not confuse with BFS at Aldergrove. ## Airportist Score **7.8 / 10** - Comfort: 7.5 - Navigation: 9.0 - Food: 6.5 - Transport: 9.0 - Disruption resilience: 6.5 ## At a glance - Passengers: 2.4M - Terminals: 1 - Typical security: 8 min - On-time: 82% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - City-centre stays and UK/ROI/near-Europe hops on Aer Lingus, BA, easyJet or KLM - Priority Pass travellers using Aspire Lounge upstairs by Gate 4 - Anyone who wants bus-to-downtown in ~10 minutes instead of the Aldergrove run ## Watch out for - Evening planning-agreement window — scheduled flying wraps mid-evening; delayed arrivals only exceptionally toward 23:59 - Sydenham rail footbridge has steps — prefer Airport Express 600 or a taxi with heavy bags or reduced mobility - Easy to book the wrong Belfast airport — BFS is the bigger leisure field at Aldergrove ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/bhd/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/bhd/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/bhd/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/bhd/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/bhd/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/bhd/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/bhd/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/bhd/reviews.md)