History Belfast International Airport

1 history

1.1 1917-1945
1.2 1946-1970
1.3 1971-1999
1.4 development since 2000s

history

kerbside of terminal building



check-in area


1917-1945

the airport lies within parish of killead, between small villages of killead (to east) , aldergrove (to west). site airport established in 1917 when selected royal flying corps training establishment during first world war. airport remained open @ end of war raf activity.

civil traffic began in 1922 when flights conducted flying newspapers chester , regular civil air service started in 1933. flight glasgow , operated midland , scottish air ferries. subsequently augmented flights isle of man, liverpool , croydon, london’s airport.

during second world war, aldergrove remained raf station particularly coastal command. airport accommodate larger, long-range aircraft, major works programme undertaken replace 4 existing runways 2 new long paved runways, thereby forming basis of layout still exists @ airport today.

1946-1970

one of outcomes of wartime airfield construction programme building of nutts corner airport, 3 mi (4.8 km) aldergrove. on 1 december 1946, new site replaced belfast harbour airport (now george best belfast city airport) northern ireland’s civil airport, site @ sydenham considered unsuitable.

by 1950s civil air traffic had outstripped facilities @ nutts corner and, in addition, aircraft being regularly diverted aldergrove because of adverse weather conditions. in july 1959 decision made move civil flights aldergrove take advantage of large airfield , took place in october 1963.

a new terminal , apron built necessary passenger facilities , complex opened queen elizabeth, queen mother on 28 october 1963. in 1966 first regular jet service london–gatwick started , in 1968 aer lingus , boac introduced scheduled services new york city via shannon , glasgow-prestwick respectively.

1971-1999

in 1971 northern ireland airports limited formed operate , develop airport , facilities. major programme of airfield upgrades undertaken resulting in improvements runways, taxiways , parking apron.

a new international pier built lounge facilities , car parks, while additional apron provided separate smaller general aviation aircraft large commercial jets. in meantime, british airways launched first belfast heathrow shuttle service , first boeing 747 operated airport on charter service toronto via shannon. first scheduled service european city started nlm cityhopper (now klm cityhopper) flying amsterdam.

in 1983 airport, renamed belfast international, regularly accommodating largest civil aircraft in service , installation of new technology capable of weather operations. in 1985 passenger numbers reached 1.5 million , bmi went competition british airways on heathrow service. further developments terminal occurred throughout late 1980s , 1990s. new executive aviation terminal opened in 1987 , new cargo centre opened in 1991.

the airport privatised in 1994. tbi became new owners of airport on 13 august 1996, time annual passenger numbers had reached 2.5 million.

in 1998 easyjet started operations airport flights london luton. since airline has established large base @ belfast international , further eleven domestic routes , fifteen direct european scheduled routes have been added network, making airline largest user of airport.

development since 2000s

in 2005 continental airlines launched first ever nonstop scheduled service newark, continued operate under united airlines brand until termination in january 2017.

in july 2013, confirmed abertis sell belfast international airport, stockholm skavsta airport & orlando sanford international airport acd , has based in united states.

in february 2015 airport re-opened viewing gallery had been closed 10 years provides view of apron , runways serve airport. includes live atc, arrival , departure boards, , live flight radar screen.

in january 2016 ryanair announced launch new 4 times daily service london gatwick in direct competition easyjet has operated route on 10 years. establish 6 further routes in october 2016 in investment worth $300 million , create 750 jobs. later on in year ryanair announced several more routes, including routes berlin , milan. ryanair said carry 1.1 million passengers year out of airport.

in november 2016, united airlines announced terminate service newark belfast january 2017 cancelling airport s year-round long-haul route. on 24 february 2017, norwegian air shuttle announced 2 new long-haul routes belfast international airport. services operate 5 times week, july, between belfast international , stewart international airport, 70 miles new york, , t. f. green airport, 60 miles boston.