Holidays from Belfast Airport give Northern Ireland’s travellers a well-connected and convenient departure point for sun breaks across Europe, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. Belfast International Airport (BFS), located at Aldergrove approximately 15 miles north-west of Belfast city centre, is Northern Ireland’s busiest airport for passenger numbers and the primary departure point for leisure travel from across the province. Direct flights from Belfast cover Spain, the Canary Islands, Greece, Turkey, Portugal and a growing range of European city breaks — making holidays from Belfast Airport the natural first choice for travellers right across Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic.
This guide covers everything you need for holidays from Belfast Airport — from the best sunshine destinations and airlines to road and bus links, terminal facilities and booking tips.
Holidays from Belfast Airport offer the most practical departure option for the majority of Northern Ireland’s population. Belfast International Airport sits within an hour’s drive of most of the province — from Derry and the north coast to Newry and the border counties — and handles a broad range of leisure routes that cover the most popular sun destinations for UK travellers. The airport is well-managed and consistently praised for its relatively relaxed, uncongested atmosphere compared to London’s major hubs.
Note: Northern Ireland also has George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD), which is closer to the city centre but has a more limited leisure route network. For the widest choice of package holidays and direct charter flights, Belfast International is the primary option.
Alicante, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza are among the most popular Spanish holidays from Belfast Airport. Alicante opens up the Costa Blanca and the resort of Benidorm — still one of Europe’s best-value all-inclusive destinations and particularly popular with Northern Irish families and groups. Malaga is the gateway to the Costa del Sol’s vast resort infrastructure, from the glamorous marina at Puerto Banus to the charming villages behind Nerja. Palma de Mallorca gives access to the full range of Balearic beach and coastline, from the busy resorts of Magaluf and Alcudia to the quieter coves of the east coast.
Tenerife and Lanzarote are the most booked Canary Island destinations on holidays from Belfast Airport, with seasonal direct flights running spring through autumn and year-round options available. The Canaries provide Northern Ireland’s most reliable winter sun escape — warm enough for swimming and outdoor dining even in January, with consistently good value all-inclusive hotels across every budget. Tenerife South is the most popular single destination, with Lanzarote offering a more volcanic, quieter resort scene that appeals to couples and repeat visitors.
Antalya and Dalaman serve Turkey’s acclaimed Mediterranean resort coast from Belfast Airport, offering exceptional all-inclusive value at accredited hotels. Greek islands including Corfu, Rhodes and Crete feature on the summer charter schedule — Corfu in particular has long been popular with Northern Irish families for its lush landscape, Ionian blue water and relaxed resort towns. Rhodes offers one of the longest seasons in the Aegean and a superb selection of historical sites alongside the beach.
Faro (for the Algarve), Lisbon and Funchal (Madeira) all feature on the Belfast schedule, rounding out a well-balanced range of Atlantic and Iberian options. The Algarve remains one of Europe’s most popular summer destinations, combining superb golden sand beaches with quality golf, excellent seafood and reliable sunshine from April through October.
easyJet operates the largest scheduled network from Belfast International, covering Spain, Portugal, the Canaries, Greece and European city breaks. TUI is the principal package holiday operator, with a comprehensive programme of all-inclusive and self-catering holidays to beach destinations across the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Jet2 provides both package holidays and scheduled seats to Spanish, Greek and Canary Island destinations. Ryanair offers a broad low-cost network across Europe. Aer Lingus provides transatlantic and European services including connections to Dublin for onward international travel.
By road, Belfast International Airport is reached via the M2/M22 motorway from Belfast city centre — approximately 30 minutes in normal traffic. From Londonderry/Derry, the A26 provides a direct route of approximately 45 minutes. From Newry and the south, the A1/M1 and M2 provide good motorway access in around an hour. On-site short-stay and long-stay car parks are available, with significant savings available by pre-booking online rather than paying on arrival.
Airport Express 300 is the main bus service connecting Belfast city centre (Europa Bus Centre) to the airport, with journeys taking approximately 30–40 minutes. Services run regularly throughout the day and are timed to coincide with major flight schedules. Translink services also connect the airport from Antrim, Ballymena and other regional towns.
Belfast International Airport has a single main terminal that has been expanded and improved in recent years. Check-in and bag drop are on the ground level; security, departures shops and restaurants are airside on the upper level. Online check-in is available for all major carriers — completing check-in in advance significantly reduces time at the airport. Belfast Airport advises arriving at least two hours before short-haul departures.
The airside departures lounge offers a good range of food and drink including a Wetherspoons pub, Costa Coffee, Burger King and a selection of other outlets. Retail includes World Duty Free, WH Smith, and a range of travel accessories and gifts. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal. The No. 1 Lounge provides a premium pre-departure experience with complimentary food and drinks — pre-booking online is recommended and substantially cheaper than walk-up prices.
Families travelling on holidays from Belfast Airport benefit from baby-changing facilities and a dedicated family zone, while the airport’s relatively compact layout means shorter walking distances than at larger hubs.
When booking holidays from Belfast Airport, make sure your operator holds ABTA membership or ATOL protection to safeguard your money. For the latest last-minute deals, check LastMinute.com.
| IATA Code | BFS |
|---|---|
| Location | Aldergrove — 15 miles north-west of Belfast city centre |
| Terminal | Single terminal |
| Best for | Spain, Canaries, Turkey, Greece — Northern Ireland’s main leisure airport |
| Bus from Belfast | Airport Express 300 — approx 35 mins from Europa Bus Centre |
| By road | M2/M22 from Belfast — approx 30 mins |
| Key airlines | easyJet, TUI, Jet2, Ryanair, Aer Lingus |
Belfast International Airport (BFS) at Aldergrove is Northern Ireland’s largest airport and the primary gateway for package holidays and charter flights — with a far wider range of direct leisure routes to Spain, the Canaries, Greece and Turkey. George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is closer to the city centre and better suited to short domestic and business routes to London and mainland UK. For holidays from Belfast Airport with the widest choice of destinations, Belfast International is the right choice for most leisure travellers.
Tenerife is served year-round from Belfast International, with both summer and winter charter programmes operated by TUI and Jet2. Lanzarote and Gran Canaria operate primarily on a seasonal basis spring through autumn, with some winter departures available. The Canaries are the most popular winter sun holidays from Belfast Airport — check current winter schedules for the latest availability.
By road, Belfast city centre to Belfast International Airport takes approximately 30 minutes via the M2/M22 in normal traffic — allow 45 minutes during morning and evening rush hours. By bus, the Airport Express 300 service from Europa Bus Centre takes 30–40 minutes. Taxi journey time is similar to driving and fares are metered from the city.
Tenerife South is consistently the most booked destination on holidays from Belfast Airport, followed by Alicante (Costa Blanca/Benidorm) and Malaga (Costa del Sol). All three offer a wide range of all-inclusive hotels at competitive prices, excellent weather from May through October, and year-round or near-year-round direct flights from Belfast International.
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