Articles
The Airport
You can find the George Best Belfast City Airport between Belfast and Holywood in County Down, Northern Ireland. There are signs for the airport as you come into Belfast on the M1 or M2. You need to travel onto the A2, Sydenham Bypass, which travels northwest from Belfast along the southern shore of Belfast Lough. The airport is three miles from the city centre and is situated next to the Port of Belfast. There are four scheduled airlines serving the airport's one runway, covering destinations throughout England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Eire and Paris. There are many other European destinations planned for the future. Unless you are a blue badge holder there is no drop off or pick up immediately outside the terminal building. There are ten minutes free parking available for picking up and dropping off in the short stay parking which is linked to the terminal building by a 40 metre long sheltered walkway.
Car Hire Locations
There are offices for five major car hire companies inside the terminal building, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and National. The car pick up and return area is right next to the terminal between the pre-booked car park and the long stay car park.
Other Car Hire Locations
Taxis are available from immediately in front of the terminal building. There are trains from the nearby Sydenham rail halt to Belfast City Centre and all its multitude of ongoing connections. A shuttle bus travels directly from the airport to the rail halt at Sydenham. Also there are Flexibus connections to the Belfast Europa Bus Centre and also the Airporter bus service runs coaches to Londonderry. Car hire is available from all these major towns. The roads around Belfast are well-signed and easily navigable, making car hire a popular choice. Indeed, Dublin 100 miles way is drivable in approximately two hours. The Translink Airport Express 300 can take you to Belfast International Airport where there are many car hire desks available.
Parking
There are several options for parking - as you come into the airport the first car park on the right is the short stay, which is also used for drop off and pick up as it is only minutes to the terminal building. The long stay car park can be found after you have passed the terminal and can be pre-booked to ensure parking spots closer to the airport and also to save you money. As an alternative for the frequent flyer there is a yearly subscription available to the Executive car park which can be found immediately in front of the terminal building. Disabled drivers have designated places in the short stay car park, but charged at the cheaper long-stay rates. There are telephone points in the car parks to contact airport staff should you require any help. Payment can be made either by ticket collection on entry and payment on departure or for added ease, by swiping your credit card on arrival and departure at the special machines.
Services
The airport is well-managed and child-friendly with shops, money changing, food and beverage outlets, conferencing facilities and tourist information all within the terminal building.
