Belfast City Airport’s bold vision: draft Master Plan 2040 set to inject £1.7 billion into NI economy

In a move poised to reshape Northern Ireland’s aviation landscape, Belfast City Airport has unveiled its draft Master Plan 2040, a comprehensive blueprint for growth that could unlock up to £200 million in private investment.

The ambitious strategy promises to support thousands of new jobs while delivering an annual £1.7 billion economic boost to the region, positioning the airport as a cornerstone of future prosperity.

The plan, open for public consultation until 11 November 2025, outlines transformative enhancements including extended terminal and airfield facilities, improved surface access, and potential complementary developments such as a hotel and expanded electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

At its core lies an exciting prospect: the introduction of a new rail halt, which could make Belfast City Airport the first on the island of Ireland to connect directly by rail, linking it seamlessly to Belfast city centre via the Bangor line.

Aviation experts forecast that demand for air travel across the island of Ireland will surge to 90 million passengers annually by 2040.

To meet this, Belfast City Airport aims to expand its capacity to handle seven million passengers per year, safeguarding and enhancing vital connectivity to the UK and Europe.

This growth trajectory would not only double the airport’s workforce to over 2,200 employees but also bolster its apprenticeship academy and acclaimed community engagement initiatives, all while accelerating sustainability goals en route to net zero emissions.

Matthew Hall, Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport, emphasised the plan’s far-reaching implications during today’s launch.

“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,” he stated.

Hall highlighted the economic ripple effects, adding:

“The economic benefits from delivery of our Master Plan will be significant. By 2040, we could generate £1.7billion in GVA for Northern Ireland and support over 23,000 jobs across the region, including over 1,100 new roles at the airport campus.”

Central to the draft Master Plan is a steadfast commitment to the local community, with all proposed growth contained within the airport’s existing noise contour limits to minimise disruption.

The airport is proposing limited evening flexibility to permit some additional scheduled flights after 21:30 – though never exceeding the current 23:59 curfew for delayed flights. This adjustment aims to empower airlines to maintain essential routes, offering passengers greater choice and reducing the risk of disruptions or cancellations.

Crucially, it would incentivise the adoption of cleaner, quieter next-generation aircraft, aligning with broader environmental objectives.

To accommodate the projected rise to seven million passengers, the plan seeks feedback on increasing the annual cap on aircraft movements from 48,000 to 61,000. Notably, no runway extension is envisaged, preserving the airport’s compact footprint in the heart of Belfast.

Sustainability remains a priority, with a strong emphasis on greener travel options.

“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,” Hall explained.

This includes a pioneering public-private partnership with Translink to assess the feasibility of the new rail halt.

“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.”

Industry leaders have welcomed the vision as a catalyst for Northern Ireland’s economic revival. Clare Guinness, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber, underscored the airport’s pivotal role:

“The contribution that Belfast City Airport makes to local business, tourism and the community is significant. Connectivity is critical to Belfast’s economic success, and the airport is a strategic economic asset that our members and wider society rely on as a lifeline for commerce and business.

“Belfast is a city on the rise and that requires the City airport to be ready to help us unlock our future potential in the next decade and beyond.”

Echoing this sentiment, Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, highlighted the tourism dividends:

“Greater air connectivity is central to making sure we can attract more visitors to spend more time here in Northern Ireland. The hospitality sector is the backbone of the tourism economy and hospitality business owners work hard to deliver our world class offer.

“We welcome future investment and enhanced capacity at Belfast City Airport as this will have a direct positive impact in bringing more visitors to sample our world class pubs, restaurants and attractions, staying longer and spending more.

“We look forward to seeing the potential development of the airport strengthening our reputation as a destination of choice for visitors from GB, Europe and the rest of the world.”

Hall concluded with a stark warning on the stakes involved:

“If Belfast City is not able to meet growth in passenger demand, there will be constraints on Northern Ireland’s air connectivity which would frustrate ambitions to improve economic productivity, increase foreign direct investment, grow tourism and create more jobs through activity at the airport.”

He reaffirmed the airport’s dedication to inclusive decision-making:

“We value and are seeking the views of our community on our draft Master Plan. We will consider all feedback before publishing the final plan early next year.”

The public consultation process invites input via the dedicated website at belfastcityairport.com/vision, in writing, or at upcoming community events:

•  Thursday 2 October 2025 – Riddell Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, South Belfast (2–4pm & 6–8pm)

•  Thursday 9 October 2025 – Templemore Baths, East Belfast (2–4pm & 6–8pm)

•  Thursday 16 October 2025 – Holywood Library, North Down (2–4pm & 6–8pm)

As Northern Ireland navigates post-pandemic recovery and global connectivity challenges, Belfast City Airport’s Master Plan 2040 emerges as a beacon of sustainable ambition. Stakeholders from business to tourism are rallying behind it, but the final shape will hinge on community voices.

With the clock ticking towards 2040, this is more than an airport expansion – it’s a blueprint for a connected, thriving future.