Cheap Flights from Belfast — Compare BFS & BHD Airports

Where to fly from

Airports in the Belfast area

Two commercial airports serve Belfast — Belfast International at Aldergrove (BFS) and George Best Belfast City (BHD) on the eastern edge of the city. Together they carry 8.5M passengers a year, making Belfast the UK's strongest twin-airport city outside London.

Rule of thumb: BFS for Europe and the Mediterranean — easyJet has a huge base, plus Jet2, Ryanair and TUI. BHD for Great Britain domestic and business — BA, Aer Lingus and Loganair to Heathrow, City, Manchester and regional airports. If the route is available at both airports, compare total journey cost including transfer time.

BFS

Belfast International

At Aldergrove, 18 miles northwest of the city. easyJet's Belfast base with 40+ routes, plus Jet2, Ryanair and TUI. Nearly all Belfast's Mediterranean and European leisure flights originate here. 300 Express bus every 15 minutes from central Belfast.

6M pax/yreasyJet base

BHD

George Best Belfast City

Named after the Manchester United legend, BHD sits 6 miles east of the city on Belfast Lough. Faster check-in, 20-minute bus from the city centre and Titanic Quarter railway station nearby. Strongest for GB and Ireland routes with BA, Aer Lingus and Loganair.

2.5M pax/yrBA / Aer Lingus hub

Where people fly to

Top destinations from Belfast

The 12 busiest routes from either Belfast airport, with the cheapest typical one-way fare across all carriers and both airports.

London Heathrow · 1h 25m

London Luton · 1h 25m

Who flies from Belfast

Popular airlines flying from Belfast

easyJet dominates at BFS, Aer Lingus and BA at BHD. Jet2 and TUI provide leisure charter depth. The two airports between them offer one of the most complete UK regional route maps.

Airline	Main Belfast base	Type	Routes from Belfast
easyJet	Belfast International (major base)	Low-cost	40+ European & UK
Jet2.com	Belfast International	Leisure	15+ beach/city
Ryanair	Belfast International	Ultra low-cost	15+ European
TUI Airways	Belfast International	Leisure charter	Seasonal holiday
Aer Lingus	Belfast City (BHD)	Full-service	London Heathrow
British Airways	Belfast City (BHD)	Full-service	London Heathrow & LCY
Loganair	Belfast City (BHD)	Regional	Exeter, Newquay, Dundee & more
KLM	Belfast City (BHD)	Full-service	Amsterdam (feeder)

When to fly

Cheapest months to fly from Belfast

Average cheapest one-way to Europe from either Belfast airport. Dublin and domestic GB routes are cheaper year-round. The Twelfth fortnight in July and the school holidays spike outbound Mediterranean fares.

Jan

£35

Feb

£42

Mar

£58

Apr

£75

May

£65

Jun

£89

Jul

£109

Aug

£119

Sep

£69

Oct

£59

Nov

£45

Dec

£75

Widen the net

Nearby cities worth comparing

For routes Belfast doesn't cover directly, these are the three most useful alternatives. Dublin in particular is only 1h 45m by road.

City of Derry Airport

LDY is a 75-minute drive from Belfast with Ryanair and Loganair — sometimes unbeatable for Scotland, London and Glasgow/Stansted routes.

Derry Airport guide →

Flights from Glasgow

Short hop by ferry + drive, or a single flight. Glasgow's Emirates Dubai and TUI Orlando are the biggest draws for long-haul.

Compare Glasgow →

Flights from Manchester

MAN has the widest long-haul choice in the British Isles outside London. A 1h 10m flight from Belfast opens up Virgin, Emirates and Etihad.

Compare Manchester →

Common questions

Belfast flights FAQs

Which Belfast airport should I fly from, BFS or BHD?

Belfast International (BFS) is best for Europe and Mediterranean — easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI all operate it, so nearly all leisure routes are here. Belfast City (BHD) is closer to the city centre (6 miles vs 18 miles), faster to get in and out of, and strongest on Britain-Northern Ireland routes — BA to Heathrow, Aer Lingus to Heathrow, Loganair regionals. Pick BHD for speed, BFS for price.

How long does it take to get to Belfast International Airport?

From Belfast city centre, the 300 Express bus runs every 15 minutes to BFS, takes 35–40 minutes, £8 single. Taxis are £30–£40. By car via the M2 motorway it's about 25–30 minutes. BFS is in Aldergrove, 18 miles northwest of central Belfast.

Can I fly direct from Belfast to North America?

Direct Belfast–US service is currently limited (United trialled Newark–BFS before the pandemic and has not returned). Most passengers connect via Dublin — Aer Lingus at Dublin offers full US pre-clearance, meaning you arrive in the US as a domestic passenger. Dublin is also only 1h 45m by road from Belfast if you want an easier drive.

Which airlines are based at Belfast International?

easyJet (BFS is one of its biggest UK bases with 40+ routes), Ryanair, Jet2.com and TUI Airways. Between them they cover most European leisure destinations plus UK domestic routes. Aer Lingus operates to London Heathrow.

Is Belfast City Airport only for business routes?

No — BHD (officially George Best Belfast City) serves leisure and business travellers. Key routes include London Heathrow (Aer Lingus & BA), London City (BA CityFlyer), London Gatwick (easyJet), Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Exeter, Southampton, and some seasonal European routes. The 20-minute walk to Titanic Quarter rail station makes it one of the easiest UK airport transfers.

What's the cheapest month to fly from Belfast?

January, February and November are consistently cheapest — easyJet and Ryanair both run substantial January sales from BFS. Summer peak (mid-July to late August) lifts Mediterranean fares up to 3×. The Twelfth fortnight in mid-July sees outbound fares spike too as many locals fly abroad for the holidays.

Pre-flight stay

Hotels near Belfast Airport

Early flight or late return? Book a room within minutes of BFS so you're not racing the clock from home.

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Booking.com

Compare hotels near Belfast Airport

Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, Hilton Garden Inn and more — typical pre-flight stays from £49/night with free shuttle to BFS.

Compare stays →

Related pages

Other from-city pages and Northern Irish / UK airports.