Access into NI
Air access has been identified as one of the strategic priority areas for economic development and tourism. The maintenance of existing air routes and the introduction of new routes are vital to boosting and sustaining the NI economy.
The number of total passengers through NI’s three main airports (Belfast International Airport, George Best Belfast City Airport, and City of Derry Airport) increased by 13% in 2024 compared to 2023, up from 8.2m to 9.3m. Air passenger flow in 2024 also sat 4% above pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This is the first year in which annual passenger numbers have exceeded 2019.