About the Airport
Belfast International Airport is the busiest airport in the whole of Northern Ireland, with visitor numbers, in Ireland, only surpassed by those of Dublin Airport. The airport is situated just over 13 miles to the northwest of Belfast city centre.
In 2023, Belfast International Airport handled over 5.9 million passengers, marking a significant increase from 4 million passengers in 2013. The airport, now the busiest in Northern Ireland, operates 24/7, catering to both commercial flights and flight training. Ownership has transitioned from Abertis to Vinci Airports, further emphasizing its role as a key transportation hub.
Among the airlines operating from Belfast International Airport are Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair, and Tui.
Almost 100 Years of Airport History
As with a number of major airports in the British Isles, Belfast International Airport can date its origins back to World War One when it was known as Aldergrove Airport. In 1917, the Royal Flying Corps selected the site for training purposes, and it was still used by the RAF after the conflict. In the early 1920s the site began being used for civil flights, though a regular service didn’t begin for another decade. Some of the early destinations included Liverpool, Glasgow and London. During the Second World War, Aldergrove Airport was again used by the RAF, with changes made to the size of the existing runways, and they have remained unchanged.
Now known as the George Best Belfast City Airport, Nutts Corner Airport was the major civil airport in Northern Ireland in the first few years after World war Two. A rapid increase in civil flights however led to Aldergrove being increasingly utilized to take the strain off Nutts Corner. In the 1960s Aldergrove saw extensive improvements, and it became a major airport in its own right, with passenger jets flying from the airport from the mid-1960s onwards. By the end of the decade, flights were going as far as New York City. In 1983 Aldergrove was renamed Belfast International Airport, and the airport was privatised in 1994.
Recent Delays and Your Right to Receive Compensation
In terms of possible monetary compensation for passengers affected by a delay, an example would be of a Jet2 flight from Belfast to Leeds. If this flight had been delayed for at least 3 hours because of boarding issues, it could result in compensation of up to £480 (560€) for each passenger. Flightright is a company who helps passengers claim their compensation.
Delay, cancellation, overbooking or missed connection flight? You are entitled to:
Short distance up to 1500 km | Medium distance up to 3500 km | Long distance from 3500 km |
e.g. London – Edinburgh | e.g. London – Athens | e.g. London – Tokyo |
250€ | 400€ | 600€ |
Recently cancelled or delayed flights at the Belfast International Airport
Here you’ll find delays and cancellations at the Belfast International Airport that could entitle you to financial compensation. Use our online calculator to check your entitlement to compensation and let Flightright do the rest of the work.
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We will be happy to help you in case of flight problems with the airline for:
We have already been able to help with problems at the following airports, among others
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Your flight did not go as planned?
In the event of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, passengers may be entitled to compensation or ticket reimbursement. Flightright enforces your rights.