The £100 million terminal extension at Belfast International Airport, including the new generation security hall, immersive duty free experience and enhancements to the arrivals area has been officially opened by First Minister & Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly.
They were welcomed to the airport by Pierre Anjolras, CEO of BIA’s owner VINCI and Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of Concessions at VINCI and President of VINCI Airports. With further investment committed over the next three years, Northern Ireland’s busiest airport is expected to record another record year building on the success of 2024.
The Airport plays a critical role for aviation, tourism and the local economy employing over 4000 people across the site. The long-term investment programme demonstrates VINCI Airports’ commitment to boosting connectivity, growth for the region all the while focusing on sustainability.
The first £25m investment phase, which is now complete, features the transformative 1600 sqm Duty Free store which combines Duty Free, Food & Beverage and Travel Essentials all under one roof. For the first time, passengers will have access to iconic global brands such as Charlotte Tilbury and Rituals, enriching the airport’s retail landscape with high-quality, exciting options. The offering also celebrates Northern Ireland’s local heritage with the introduction of beloved local brands such as McConnells, Bushmills, and Boatyard Distillery.
This authenticity is further enhanced through a partnership with Tourism Northern Ireland, including initiatives like the Northern Ireland Spirits Trail, highlighting the region’s rich distilling heritage. Passengers can also explore an international tasting bar, sampling local and global products to discover and take home their favourite finds.
Despite this significant investment Northern Ireland travellers still cannot avail of the full duty free tax exemption when travelling to other UK and EU Airports, as airports across rest of the UK and Ireland can, following the Brexit transition period. This is an issue we are determined to put right.
The new security hall has been purpose built for growth to ensure the area can adapt with passenger demand and features state of the art Next Generation Security Equipment meaning passengers no longer have to move liquids or electronics from hand luggage making for amore seamless transition through the security process – the wide open space provides passengers with a more relaxed experience.
Externally a new forecourt area has been created with the building design taking inspiration from the design of the original terminal completed in 1963. The most notable feature of this building was the angular roof construction and this is still prevalent today, both externally and internally.
Reminiscent of an aircraft wing’, this formed the inspiration for the design of the new extension, generating a new façade with a similar angular wing effect reflecting the historical significance of the original building and tying together the old and new buildings.
Reflecting on the airport’s progress, Belfast International Airport’s Chief Executive Dan Owens said:
“When we started this process around two years ago we were focused on our goal to transform the passenger experience at Belfast International Airport. Today we can say we have made significant progress in achieving that goal. We provide employment for over 4000 people connecting almost 7 million passengers across our airline network. As the economic driver for this region in terms of economic development and tourism growth we are committed to further enhancing the passenger experience while also working with our airline partners to develop our network of routes. “
For further information about Belfast International Airport, please visit https://www.belfastairport.com