City of Derry Airport (LDY)
City of Derry Airport (LDY) is the main airport for the north-west of Northern Ireland, handling around 450,000 passengers per year. Located 7 miles north-east of Derry/Londonderry city centre, it serves a catchment area that includes County Donegal across the border in the Republic of Ireland, making it a genuinely cross-border airport.
The terminal is small and boutique — a single building with a relaxed atmosphere quite unlike the bustle of Belfast or Dublin. Ryanair dominates, operating to London Stansted, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and Manchester. Loganair connects to Glasgow and Manchester. The limited but well-chosen route network covers the key UK city links that most passengers need.
LDY's chief advantage is convenience. For anyone based in Derry, north Donegal, or north Tyrone, it eliminates a 70-mile drive to Belfast International or a longer journey to Dublin. The airport has been a key piece of infrastructure for the region's economic development.
Single boutique terminal
⚠️ LDY is a small regional airport — always confirm your route is operating before travel.
Most popular routes
City of Derry Airport Terminal
LDY operates from a single compact terminal. The boutique scale means a calm, stress-free experience — no long walks between gates, minimal queuing at security, and a friendly local atmosphere.
| Check-in desks | Compact hall · Ryanair, Loganair |
| Security | Fast — typically under 10 minutes at non-peak times |
| Departure lounge | Airside cafe, bar and retail · free Wi-Fi |
| Arrivals | Ground floor baggage reclaim · car hire desks |
| Car hire | Available at terminal — key for Donegal access |
| Lounge | No dedicated premium lounge at LDY |
Transport to City of Derry Airport
| Bus to city centre | ~15 min · approx £2 |
| Taxi to city centre | ~15 min · approx £10–12 |
| Drive from Derry city centre | 7 miles NE · ~15 min |
| Drive from Letterkenny, Donegal | ~30 min |
| Drive from Belfast | ~70 miles · ~1h 15m via A6 |
| Car hire | Available at terminal |
| Train (nearest station) | Londonderry/Derry station — no direct rail link to airport |
Parking at LDY
LDY offers affordable on-site parking, competitively priced compared to major UK airports. Pre-booking online is recommended.
Airlines flying from City of Derry
LDY has a compact but practical route network. For international travel, many passengers connect via Stansted or use nearby Dublin Airport for a wider choice of destinations.
City of Derry Airport jobs
No listing named City of Derry Airport on 4 Nov. Vacancies within 5 miles, and where the airlines recruit cabin crew and pilots, are on the jobs page.
Things to do near City of Derry Airport
The most-booked tours and tickets in Derry with a rating of 4.3 or better from at least 100 reviews. Prices are per person, as seen on 4 Nov.
Listings, photos, ratings and prices from Viator; we earn a commission on bookings and the price you pay is unchanged.
City of Derry Airport FAQs
In the week to 4 Nov we saw non-stop fares from City of Derry to 6 destinations. The cheapest one-way fares seen were Birmingham £26, Edinburgh £30, Manchester £39, Liverpool John Lennon £40 and London Heathrow £84.
The lowest one-way fare we saw this week was £26 to Birmingham with easyJet, for travel on 30 Nov (seen on 25 Oct). It is a fare seen on that date, not a live price.
Airlines seen selling non-stop flights from City of Derry this week: easyJet (3 destinations) and Loganair (2 destinations).
If you live in or near Derry/Londonderry, County Donegal, or north Tyrone, LDY is the obvious choice — Belfast International is 70 miles away. If you want a wider choice of routes and airlines (including long-haul) then Belfast International or Dublin Airport will serve you better. LDY wins on convenience; Belfast wins on choice.
City of Derry Airport is 7 miles north-east of Derry/Londonderry city centre. A bus takes approximately 15 minutes and costs around £2. Taxis charge approximately £10–12. The journey is quick and straightforward.
Yes, car hire desks operate at the terminal. This is particularly useful for reaching County Donegal and exploring the wider north-west. Pre-booking online gives better rates than walk-in. Irish border crossing is seamless with no passport checks required for UK citizens.
The city is officially named Londonderry in Northern Ireland but is known as Derry across the community and in the Republic of Ireland. 'City of Derry Airport' is the compromise name used by the airport authority. The IATA code LDY reflects the Londonderry origin of the name.
A bus service connects the airport to Derry city centre in approximately 15 minutes for around £2. Services are timed to connect with flights. Taxis outside the terminal are the alternative at around £10–12 for the same journey.
City of Derry Airport has on-site parking at competitive prices. The compact airport means all car parks are close to the terminal. Pre-booking online is recommended for the best rates and guaranteed availability.
No direct scheduled flights run between LDY and Dublin. Dublin is about 75 miles from Derry and reachable by bus or car in around 1.5–2 hours. Many Derry-area passengers use Dublin Airport for intercontinental travel given its much larger route network.