Getting to and from Belfast Aldergrove International Airport (BFS)

Belfast International Airport is the largest airport in Northern Ireland, and the second largest airport in Ireland, before Dublin Airport. It is followed by the airports of Cork and Shannon. Although previous years were busier, the airport currently handles around four million passengers per year, and serves as a hub for the airline carrier Aer Lingus. It has been allocated the official airport code of BFS, in order to distinguish it from similar establishments. Belfast International Airport directions for motorists are simple to follow, as it is located on one of the main roads of the area, and is nearby several other large motorways. Directions in more detail can be found online as well, or can be obtained from the airport.

Belfast International Airport, or the Aldergrove Airport, as is was formerly known, lies approximately 23km, or 13.2 miles west of Belfast city in Northern Ireland. Since that Northern Ireland forms part of the United Kingdom, Belfast International is a UK airport, and is rated as the thirteenth busiest of all such airports. Areas particularly nearby the airport include Aldergrove to the west, and Nutt’s Corner and Crumlin to the south. Just west of the airport is also the Lough Neagh, a large lake. Other surrounding areas include Antrim, Dunadry, Templepatrick, Mallusk, Dundrod and Glenavy. From a broader perspective, Newtownabbey, Belfast and Bangor are to the east and south-east of the airport, Lisburn and Craigavon are to the south, and Ballymena and Coleraine are found to the north. To the far south in the Republic of Ireland, and along the coastline of the country, is the large and important city of Dublin.

The A57 is the airport road of Belfast International Airport, and other main roads in the vicinity include the Antrim Road, the A26, the A6 and the M2. Buses and taxis are forms of transport which can be used besides a private vehicle, but there is no train station at the airport. The Airport Express 300 Bus travels from the Belfast Europa Buscentre (nearby the Great Victoria Street Train Station) at regular intervals, and the Ulsterbus 109A links the airport to the Antrim Buscentre (nearby the Antrim Train Station) and Lisburn. Another coach service known as the Airporter provides transport from Londonderry/Derry. Taxis are available by the company of ‘International Airport Taxi’ from all destinations.

Belfast International Airport directions from the south and west, and from Dublin

From areas such as Craigavon, take the M1 motorway in a northerly direction, heading towards Moira, and then turn-off at Junction 9. Motorists will now be driving towards Antrim on the A26. Pass through Nutt’s Corner and follow the signs to Belfast International Airport. From Dublin, the route to follow is the M1/E1 until Newry, and then the bypass towards the A1. Join the M1 motorway and head west towards Moira. Then follow the same directions as previously mentioned.

Belfast International Airport directions from the east (Belfast)

From Belfast, the airport is approximately a thirty to forty minute journey, and can be easily accessed on the M2 motorway. Drive the M2 in a north-westerly direction until nearby Templeton, and turn off at Junction 5 onto the A57. Head south-west until the airport terminal.

Belfast International Airport direction from the north (Londonderry)

The main road leading from Londonderry, north-west of the airport, is the A6. The A6 merges with the M22, and then the M2, from where the Antrim North exit can be taken onto the A26. Continue south on the A26 until reaching the airport. Along the way, motorists will pass the small towns of Claudy, Dungiven, Maghera, Castledawson, Toome and Randalstown. From Coleraine, the A29 can be taken south until meeting the A6, or the A26 can be taken towards Ballymoney and Ballymena.

Passengers who have a satellite navigation system in their vehicles can use the postcode of BT29 4AB for the airport. However, if directed to Crumlin, simply exit via the Nutt’s Corner Road and follow the Belfast International Airport signs. Passengers will find over 8,000 parking spaces at the airport, in long-term and short-term parking lots. Departing passengers may also be dropped off in the ‘drop-off’ zone.

Belfast International Airport facilities are extensive, and more than adequate to meet the needs of airport passengers. There is just one large terminal, capable of handling millions passengers every year, and it consists of arrival and departure areas. Within the building, there are airport shops and restaurants, including duty-free stores and Starbucks for coffee, currency exchange facilities, a business lounge, internet connections, luggage weighing equipment and baby-changing facilities. The airport is welcoming for passengers with young children/babies, and is comfortable for persons with reduced mobility challenges. In general, Belfast International has two levels, with the ground floor for arrivals and the upper floor for departure proceedings.

Find out more detailed Belfast International Airport directions at http://maps.google.com/maps, or contact the airport at +44 (0) 28 9448 48 48. This number has an automatic answering service, therefore, simply follow the recorded menu instructions.