Belfast International Airport (BFS) Guide, Facilities & Hotels, Cafes and Restaurants

Introduction

When you are traveling to and from Belfast International Airport, it is a good idea to know about the airport and the amenities it offers. Whether it’s your holiday or a business trip, having general information and tips, especially when traveling alone or with a companion, can actually save you from experiencing troubled moments.

Our airport guide gives you all the essential insights that you, as a traveler, can make use of while journeying across places in any part of the globe.

A Brief Overview of Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland

Situated about 21.3 km (13.2 miles) from the capital city of Belfast, the Belfast International Airport is the busiest airport in Northern Ireland. Belfast also happens to be among the largest cities in the United Kingdom.

Most of the flights in and out of Belfast International Airport are linked to the different U.K. or other European city destinations, even though there are some flights certain for primarily in Spain and North Africa, as well as a seasonal long-haul flight that reaches Orlando, Florida in the United States. Since it only has one terminal, Belfast International Airport is pretty effortless to navigate.

To reach the airport from Belfast City, you will need to take the M2 motorway north, then take a turn at Junction 5 and simply follow the A57 route for another 11.2 km (7 miles) till you arrive at the airport. The M2 motorway can be very busy during rush hour, so be certain to plan your trip at least 45 minutes prior to reaching the airport. The drive generally only takes about 30 minutes.

IATA: BFS

Address: Airport Road, Belfast BT29 4AB, UK

Contact: +44 28 9448 4848

Website: https://www.belfastairport.com

Operation Hours: Belfast International Airport is open 24 hours. However, certain food concessions and car rental services may not offer their services 24 hours. Also, services like airline check-in and baggage drop hours may also vary with the flight schedule. Hence, it is advised that you check with the airport.

Terminals at Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport has only one main terminal building for arrivals and departures. Within the terminal, there are several gates that segregate domestic and international destinations.

Parking Options at Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport provides travelers with convenient parking options. You can quickly reach the airport by taking the M2 motorway. The airport operates four car parks, three of which are on-site car parks and one is an off-site car park. The on-site short-stay and the main car parks are located within convenient walking distance of the terminal building, and an on-demand courtesy bus operates to and from the on-site long-stay vehicle park. The off-site short- or long-stay car park, known as ‘Park and Fly’, is located just before the main entrance to the airport, and is also serviced by a courtesy bus.

Short Stay Parking:
The Short Stay car park is located closest to the airport’s terminal building and is just a 2 minutes walking distance. Parking here for up to 10 minutes costs £1 ($1.22 USD) and the price gets added by £1.50 ($1.83 USD) for every 10 minutes of parking.

Main-Stay Parking:
The Main-Stay car park facility is located about 3 minutes of walking distance from the airport’s terminal building. This parking option is ideal for business travelers flying for a long weekend but does not come cheap. Parking here for half an hour costs £2.50 ($3.06 USD) and for an hour, the fee is £4 ($4.89 USD). Passengers that already have pre-paid for their car parking can go to the car park kiosk located in the main car park for validation.

Long Stay Parking:
The Long Stay car park is located about 5 minutes walking distance from the airport’s terminal building. Parking here is free for up to 15 minutes only. This parking option is ideal for holiday and business travelers flying from the airport. The airport also offers advanced pre-booked (via phone and online booking) car park services to passengers who require parking for 7 days or more.

Pick-up and Drop-off:
The airport also offers a dedicated pick-up and drop-off zone located directly next to the terminal building. This facility is for persons who are just there to see off their friends or family at the airport.

Airlines Served by Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland serves domestic, international, government, and cargo airlines. Airlines served by the airport include BH Air, EasyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air.

Facilities and Services Available at Belfast International Airport

Belfast International Airport in London offers various amenities to passengers to make their traveling experience worthwhile. The airport has a range of duty-free stores, food and beverage outlets, Wi-Fi and internet access, business services, and more.

Security Check-points

There are many security check-point in every terminal of the airport. All passengers are required to pass through the security checks.

Help Desk

When you are at the Belfast International Airport and need help, there is an information desk to assist you. Here, you can inquire about your flight or find other facilities easily at the airport. The information desks can be found throughout the airport.

Wi-Fi and Mobile Charging Points

Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the airport, in case you need to connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access the internet. Free Wi-Fi is, however, accessible for 2 hours only.

In addition to Wi-Fi internet access, mobile charging power points are also available at the airport, in case you need to charge your phone’s battery. Mobile charging powerpoints can be found at various places in the airport.

Baggage Handling and Storage

Make sure to check with your respective airline as to what carry-on items (and their size) are allowed.

Lounge and Business Conference Rooms

Belfast International Airport provides premium lounges that you can use by either having to pay at the door or advance booking by purchasing a lounge pass, or via lounge membership programs.

Causeway Lounge:
This premium lounge is open from 5 am until 9:15 pm. Passengers can access the lounge by paying at the door, using the Priority Pass membership program, and online bookings. The lounge access fee per adult is £27.50 ($33.61) and per child (ages 2-17) is £15 ($18.33).

However, passengers are offered free Wi-Fi and served hot and cold snacks, tea, coffee, etc. Also, you can try your taste on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Shortcross Gin from Downpatrick, and Belfast Ginger (a Jawbox Gin). You can find the lounge located next to Gates 16 and 17, right after Duty-Free, and then turn left.

Shops and Duty-Free

Belfast International Airport is small compared to other airports in the U.K., but there are nonetheless plenty of places to pick up snacks before your flight or even to grab a meal. The most recently opened eatery is the Lagan Bar, the place where you can have a pint, devour fish and chips or a burger, and capture a soccer fit before boarding your flight.

You will find many stores throughout the airport’s terminals and concourses. These shops sell a wide range of items – from children’s toys to fashion accessories. You can also buy books, magazines, etc., to help pass time. Duty-free stores can be found at the airport, as well as a good selection of shops selling everything, including souvenir items.

There are also many other dining selections, which include:

• Caffe Ritazza (for espresso and panini)
• Sip & Stone (for all-day breakfast or local recipes, like steak and Guinness casserole)
• Starbucks (for beverages and light meals)
• Burger King (for speedy food)
• Chopped (for salads and other sparkling foods to take away)
• Coco Diablo (for a Mexican-inspired menu)
• Northern Quarter Bar (for drinks overlooking the concourse

Cafes, Bar, and Restaurants

Finding fast food options should not be a problem as there are many local and popular nationwide food chains at the Tampa International Airport. These fast-food restaurants are located throughout the terminals and concourses, giving you the best options to eat and satisfy your pre-flight craving.

Food concessions are been opened throughout the airport which are been operated with varying schedules. A wide variety of dining options are also available.

Other Amenities at Belfast International Airport

The other amenities that are available at Belfast International Airport include:

Children’s Play Area:

There is a children’s play area inside the paid Causeway Lounge.

Baby Changing Facilities:

Baby changing facilities can be found on the departures’ concourse between Burger King and the children’s play area and at Gates 10 – 14, near the arrivals hall on the ground floor, at the top of the moving walkway, and even in the lounge of the international departure area.

Fast Track:

You can speed your way through security using a Fast Track Ticket. This ticket is available for online purchase for £4 ($4.92 USD).

ATM:

ATMs are available at the Belfast International Airport. You can swipe your bank card and withdraw cash at the airport’s ATM if you’re running low on cash or need to make cash payments at other services or stores. You can find ATMs in a few places in the airport.

Currency Exchange:

The International Currency Exchange (ICE) is the only currency exchange service provider at Belfast International Airport. Passengers can buy currencies via cash, debit, and credit cards. ICE also offers an online rate, which is more convenient as passengers in need of cash can quickly pick up the needed currency at the airport, which also saves time and hassle.

There are two International Currency Exchange offices in the airport. One is located before the central search security area and the other is located in the International Arrivals area. They are open from 5 am until 8 pm.

Bank:

There may not be any banks at the airport.

Hotels On-site and Nearby Belfast International Airport

Finding accommodations at the Belfast International Airport or nearby should not be a problem for you as there are several hotels out there. Whether you are traveling alone, with friends, family, or children, you will find comfortable places to stay during your visit to the United Kingdom.

A few hotels that are located not very far from the Belfast International Airport are:

Maldron Hotel Belfast Airport:
The hotel is located about 3 minutes’ walking distance from the airport. There is no airport shuttle service provided.

Ballyrobin Country Lodge:
The hotel is located about 3 minutes from the airport. An on-demand airport shuttle service is available.

Dunadry Hotel:
The hotel is located about 10 minutes from the airport. But there will be no airport shuttle service available to reach the hotel.

Holiday Inn Express Antrim M2:
The hotel is located about 10 minutes from the airport. There is no airport shuttle service provided to reach to hotel premises.

Transport Options To and From Belfast International Airport

Getting to and from the Belfast International Airport should not be much of a hassle as you will find transport options. You can quickly find a convenient mode of transportation to meet your travel needs. There are several ground transportation options available to travelers that make visiting nearby places and other places of interest very convenient, quick, and affordable.

Airport/Hotel Shuttle Services

Many travelers often find shuttle services to be very favorable as it saves them plenty of time when getting to the hotel and/or airport. A free shuttle bus provides travelers with easy connectivity.

Bus Services

A bus service called Translink operates an express bus service of 300 to the airport from its Europa Buscentre in Belfast City Centre. Its service is available 24 hours a day, and every 15 minutes during peak hours, Translink also offers bus connections to Antrim railway station.

The airport can be reached from Derry and the northwest by the Airporter. The 109A bus service operates between 6 am and 6 pm from Lisburn bus center in Lisburn City Centre, calling at Lisburn railway station, Ballinderry, Glenavy, Crumlin, Belfast International Airport, and Antrim Train and Bus Centre has well set up connections with Northern Ireland railways to Belfast Great Victoria Street station and Derry/Londonderry station.

Train Services

The nearest railway station is the Antrim railway station, which is about 10 km (6.2 miles) from the airport in Antrim, and serviced by the 109A Ulsterbus bus to and from Antrim bus/railway station from there connections to Derry and Belfast can be made by train. There are connections to Belfast, Lisburn, and Derry. Antrim station on the Belfast–Derry railway line. Train from Belfast Central railway station has train to travel to or from Dublin.

Taxi Services

Taxis are accessible at Belfast International Airport 24 hours a day, and the services are operated by the International Airport Taxi Company. You can locate them at the stand in front of arrivals or book ahead via phone or online. The rates depend on the specific holiday spot within the city, but usually costs about £25 ($30.62 USD) to reach the center.

Car Hire/Rental Services

You can hire a car at Belfast International Airport if you are in the mood to cruise around places in the city. There are several car rental companies that provide car-to-hire services to travelers on-site. These companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Enterprise, and National. You can find them located on-site at the Arrivals Hall.

Conclusion

Traveling to and from Belfast International Airport will certainly give you a pleasant experience. And if you plan on staying here for a while, you will find a lot of attractions – from historical structures to enjoying your holidays on the island’s beautiful coastal regions.