Belfast City Airport Explores Potential of Direct Rail Connection

Belfast City Airport’s draft Master Plan 2040 includes the possibility of adding an airport rail halt on the Bangor line. This would make the airport the first on the island of Ireland with a direct rail link.

The plan sets out several key measures, including:

• Expansion of terminal and airfield facilities
• Improvements to surface access
• New developments such as a hotel and more electric vehicle charging points
• The possibility of a rail halt on the Bangor line

Projections from aviation analysts suggest passenger demand across the island could double to 90 million per year by 2040. Under the draft plan, Belfast City Airport would aim to accommodate 7 million passengers annually within that timeframe.

Sustainability measures, including progress towards net zero, form part of the strategy. Encouraging more passengers to use public transport is highlighted as a priority, with a feasibility study underway with Translink into the proposed rail link.

A public consultation now runs until 11 November 2025. The draft Master Plan can be viewed at belfastcityairport.com/vision, where responses can also be submitted. Feedback is also being invited by post or at public engagement sessions.

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.

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.