BHD: Belfast City (Northern Ireland)

Ryanair started flying to and from Belfast City 30 October 2007, and announced on 31 August 2010 that all flights would end 30 October 2010.

Belfast City Airport (BHD) is located 3km from the centre of Belfast; this is one of those rarer cities in which FR fly to the airport which is much closer to downtown. The competing Belfast International (BFS), home to Easyjet and Jet2, is 32km away near Aldergrove.

BHD's runways 04/22 are 1,829m long, so too short for a fully laden 737-800 to reach any continental European destination. Ryanair publicly blamed the NI planning authorities for taking too long in approving the planned 200m extension to the runway, although no other airline at BHD currently needs the longer runway to reach Europe.

ROUTE INFO
(correct September 2010)

1 based aircraft, 5 routes:

Bristol (BRS) - < 2 daily
East Midlands (EMA) - < 3 daily
Glasgow Prestwick (PIK) - 1 daily
London Stansted (STN) - < 4 daily
Liverpool (LPL) - < 3 daily

BHD-based a/c flies BHD-STN-BHD-PIK-BHD-LPL-BHD / BHD-STN-BHD-BRS-BHD (PIK and LPL swap on weekdays during some seasons). Longer routes to Europe have repeatedly been promised by Ryanair if BHD is allowed to extend its 1829m runway. Due to NI being part of the United Kingdom, all these routes are 'domestic' although it is not unusual for unfamiliar STN or even EMA based crews to accidentally offer landing cards during flights from BHD to Great Britain

BHD-PIK is the shortest Ryanair route anywhere, at 80 miles as the crow flies. Block time is 45 minutes, but flights can be as short as 20 minutes if plane departs from 04 or lands onto 22. You will find the fastest and most efficient FR cabin crew anywhere on Europe selling the full range of hot & cold drinks and snacks, duty free, smokeless cigarettes and scratch cards during this flight!

AIRPORT INFO

One modern (c. 2001) and recently refurbished (2010) passenger terminal. Other airlines include FlyBe (BE), BMI (BD), EasyJet (London-Luton only; all other routes from BFS).

TRANSPORT

To/from Belfast

Metro bus 600 operates every 20 minutes from Belfast Europa Buscentre, adjacent to Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station. Europa is the hub for all intercity and most regional and rural buses in Belfast. Journey time: 10 - 15 minutes. Fare: £2 single, £3 return; buy on board from the driver. Upon flight arrival, exit the terminal and turn right, and wait at the second bus stop. Full details here: http://www.translink.co.uk/airportexpress600.asp

NI Railways have a station at Sydenham, close to the cargo terminal. Upon flight arrival, ask at the tourist information (just outside baggage reclaim) for a free shuttle bus down to the station.

From the far platform, trains go every thirty minutes towards Belfast Central (for the Enterprise train to Dublin and northbound connections towards Larne, Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine and L'Derry), Belfast Botanic (for Queen's University), City Hospital, Great Victoria Street (for Europa Buscentre) and stations towards Portadown. Single fare to Belfast: £1.60.

From the near platform, trains go every thirty minutes towards Bangor.

If arriving by train, cross the passenger footbridge and enter the gate. There's a bus shelter and courtesy phone to request the bus.

To/from Londonderry / Derry

Airporter is a privately operated bus shuttle to Londonderry / Derry. There are eleven round-trips every day, the last one leaves the airport at 21:45. Fare: £17.50 single, £27.50 return, journey time around 2 hours.