Belfast City Airport has launched the planning process for a £200 million expansion that would let it operate later into the evening and handle more flights each year. The proposal seeks permission to extend scheduled operating hours to 10.30pm, while keeping the midnight-to-6.30am no-fly period, and to raise the annual aircraft movement cap from 48,000 to 61,000.
The airport’s wider Master Plan 2040 covers an extended terminal, new airfield infrastructure, improved access, a redesigned multimodal forecourt, more parking and a hotel. It also preserves the option of a future pedestrian link to a rail halt serving the airport. Matthew Hall, the chief executive, linked the changes to forecast growth in air travel demand across the island of Ireland and the need for Belfast City Airport to be capable of handling 7 million passengers a year.
A proposal of application notice has been submitted to Belfast City Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council, opening a public consultation before outline and full planning applications are expected later this year.