Airport Name
George Best Belfast City Airport
Airport Location
The airport is located 1 mile east of Belfast.
Terminals
1
IATA Code
BHD
Telephone
+44 (0)28 9093 9093
Airport Overview
George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is a mere 3 miles (5km) from central Belfast, Northern Ireland’s largest city (second only to Dublin in size). The airport was renamed in 2006 in honor of George Best, the legendary footballer from Belfast, who played for Manchester United.
Flights to George Best Belfast City Airport arrive from the UK and major cities in France and Spain. Annually, the airport sees more than 3 million passengers.
Despite the small size of the airport (a single runway) the airport is well-kept and efficient and staff are friendly. However, the parking here is notoriously expensive so use the public transport options if possible.
Terminal Transfer
This is a small airport with only one terminal.
Getting into Town
Train: You can take a shuttle bus to the nearby station at Sydenham, or walk – it’s only about 10 minutes away. Trains operate every half hour during the week, and hourly at weekends. The fare to the city center is £1.40. From there, you can get just about anywhere in Ireland by rail.
Bus: Numerous buses leave from just outside the airport. The Airport Express 600, which runs directly to the city center, operates approximately every 20 minutes and costs £2 single and £3 return. The No. 3 bus goes from Sydenham Station to City Hall every 20 minutes, or every 10 minutes during peak times. The Airporter service operates 11 coaches daily to the city center, with fares starting at £2.50 one way. You can book a spot in advance.
Taxi: Taxis are available from outside the terminal. The approximate fare to the city center is £8.
Car Parking
The airport has short-term and long-term car parks available, although they’re quite expensive. Only the first 10 minutes are free in the short-stay car park, then it’s £2 for the first half-hour, and more than double that (£4.50) for anything under an hour. The maximum daily rate is £32. The long-term car park, which is a five to 10-minute walk from the terminal, starts at £20 for the first day.
Information Desks
The airport information desk is located opposite the rental car desk, on your right as you enter the terminal.
Airport Facilities
Money and communications: There are several ATMs throughout the terminal. Two are located in the main concourse near the Travelex, and another in the departures lounge. For foreign exchange, the Travelex Bureau de Change is available on the ground floor, close to the arrivals doors. Public telephones are located throughout the terminal.
Luggage: Belfast City Airport is strict about enforcing baggage size and weight restrictions. You can use the gauge near the self-check-in ticket machines to weigh luggage.
Conference and business: There are conference facilities and meeting rooms available at Belfast City Airport. The two conference rooms can seat up to 40 people each, while the two meeting rooms can host eight people each.
Shopping: Retail pickings are slim at this small airport, but you’ll be able to pick up necessities (newspaper, magazine, sweets) from WH Smith. There are also a range of gift options at the duty-free store, and the locally-themed House of Ireland gift shop.
Food and drink: A number of food options are available in the departure lounge, ranging from quick grab-a-coffee stops to sit-down eateries. Get a quick
sandwich at O’Briens if you’re on the run, or sample some whiskey or lager and authentic Irish pub grub at Bushmills Bar if you have more time to kill.
Other facilities: There is a children’s play area after the security check point.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available in the main departures lounge on the first floor and in the conference center through BT Openzone. You can start a subscription or buy a voucher online for about £6. There are also four Internet kiosks available in the departures lounge.
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