Belfast City Airport extension plan to include new rail halt

Belfast City Airport master plan includes proposal for island's first air-rail link

Belfast City Airport has today unveiled its transformational draft Master Plan 2040, that has the potential to unlock up to £200 million in private investment, support thousands of new jobs and deliver a £1.7 billion injection into the Northern Ireland economy annually.

The draft plan also shows an exciting opportunity to deliver a new rail halt to potentially become the first airport on the island of Ireland to be connected by rail.

The airport is seeking views on its vision for growth over the next 15 years, which includes extended terminal and airfield facilities, surface access improvements and complementary development, which could include a hotel and increased EV charging facilities.

Aviation analysts predict demand for air travel across the island of Ireland will double to 90 million passengers per year by 2040. That will require Belfast City Airport to grow to 7 million passengers over the same period, ensuring Belfast retains and expands its connectivity to the UK and Europe.

The draft plan would double the airport’s workforce to over 2,200 and facilitate growth of its apprenticeship academy and award-winning community engagement programme. It would also accelerate key sustainability ambitions, including the airport’s journey to net zero.

Matthew Hall, Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport, said:

“Delivery of our Master Plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will benefit passengers and businesses across the region, whilst delivering key elements of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Programme for Government.

The economic benefits from delivery of our Master Plan will be significant. By 2040, we could generate £1.7billion in GVA for Northern Ireland and support over 23,000 jobs across the region, including over 1,100 new roles at the airport campus.

“Every airport on the island of Ireland will need to play its part in meeting future demand, and this draft Master Plan exemplifies Belfast City Airport’s commitment to doing so, while reinforcing our position as a vital economic enabler for the region.

“We want more passengers to arrive by public transport and leave their cars at home, hence a focus on greener journeys within the Master Plan.

“We’ve recently entered a pioneering public-private partnership with Translink to conclude a feasibility study for a new rail halt linking the airport with Belfast city centre on the Bangor line. We look forward to further exploring this initiative.”

At the heart of the draft Master Plan is a commitment to protect the local community by accommodating all growth within the airport’s current noise contour limit.

The airport is exploring limited flexibility in the evening, to allow some additional scheduled flights for a period after 21:30, but not beyond the current 23:59 limit for delayed flights. This would enable airlines to operate the necessary routes, give passengers more choice and avoid disruption or cancellations. Importantly, it would encourage airlines to accelerate investment in cleaner, quieter, new generation aircraft.

To deliver the benefits of growth to 7 million passengers a year by 2040, the airport is also seeking views on moving the annual cap on aircraft movements from 48,000 to 61,000.

The airport does not anticipate that a runway extension would be required.

Clare Guinness, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber said:

The contribution that Belfast City Airport makes to local business, tourism and the community is significant. 

"Connectivity is critical to Belfast’s economic success, and the airport is a strategic economic asset that our members and wider society rely on as a lifeline for commerce and business. Belfast is a city on the rise and that requires the City airport to be ready to help us unlock our future potential in the next decade and beyond.”

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster commented:

Greater air connectivity is central to making sure we can attract more visitors to spend more time here in Northern Ireland. 

"The hospitality sector is the backbone of the tourism economy and hospitality business owners work hard to deliver our world-class offer."

“We welcome future investment and enhanced capacity at Belfast City Airport as this will have a direct positive impact in bringing more visitors to sample our world class pubs, restaurants and attractions, staying longer and spending more. We look forward to seeing the potential development of the airport strengthening our reputation as a destination of choice for visitors from GB, Europe and the rest of the world.”

Matthew Hall concluded:

“If Belfast City is not able to meet growth in passenger demand, there will be constraints on Northern Ireland’s air connectivity which would frustrate ambitions to improve economic productivity, increase foreign direct investment, grow tourism and create more jobs through activity at the airport.”

“We value and are seeking the views of our community on our draft Master Plan. We will consider all feedback before publishing the final plan early next year.”

The draft Master Plan is open for public consultation until 11 November 2025. The full document can be viewed at belfastcityairport.com/vision.