Belfast International Airport Unveils New Dedicated Accessible Parking Area Belfast- Belfast International Airport has announced the opening
Belfast International Airport Unveils New Dedicated Accessible Parking Area
Belfast- Belfast International Airport has announced the opening of a new, dedicated accessible parking area, significantly enhancing the travel experience for passengers who require additional assistance.
The new facility—the first of its kind at a UK airport—features 236 purpose-designed, fully accessible Blue Badge bays replacing the standard parking spaces.
The investment serves as a long-term solution for growing passenger demand and the need to guarantee the availability of spaces for passengers who need additional assistance. The project follows 18 months of intensive consultation with the Consumer Council and the Airport’s Accessibility Forum, ensuring that the voices of accessibility stakeholders were fully considered throughout the planning and design process.
Chris Cunningham, Car Park Manager, said,
“This has been a major investment for Belfast International Airport, and one that reflects the importance we place on accessibility and inclusion. We are proud to offer a dedicated solution, that not only that meets current demand but is designed with the flexibility to grow alongside our passengers’ needs. We are undergoing a significant transformation right across the airport site and we are continuously improving our facilities to ensure a smooth and accessible journey for all.
Michelle Kelly, Head of Transport, Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, said,
“This initiative reflects Belfast International Airport’s ongoing commitment to making travel as simple and inclusive as possible, particularly for Blue Badge holders and passengers with hidden disabilities.”
Sam Bell MBE, Member of IMTAC and Chair of the airport’s Accessibility Forum, said,
“It is great to see that the airport has taken on board the views of many of their customers and created a fantastic, purpose-built facility, with room to grow. With dedicated areas and call points, this is a very welcome addition to the airport facilities. We will continue to work with the airport to further improve facilities for passengers with disabilities, including consideration of our recommendation to provide a covered walkway from the parking area to the airport building.”
The new car park is situated to the left-hand side of the terminal building, within close proximity of the entrance. It offers pedestrians a direct route to the terminal building and minimises encounters with traffic compared to previous arrangements. The area includes dedicated waiting zones and call points, with the special assistance service provided by OCS available to support passengers upon arrival.
Belfast International Airport is the principal gateway for Northern Ireland, handling over 6.7m passengers every year. Major airlines based at the airport include easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2.com and TUI flying to a wide range of destinations across the UK and Europe. As one of the largest employment sites in Northern Ireland, almost 5000 people work across the airport. We are one of the largest regional cargo hubs in the UK, with DHL, FedEx, UPS and Royal Mail basing operations on the site and facilitating 50,000 tonnes of cargo into and out of Northern Ireland every year.
To see a video of directions to the airport and accessible parking, click here
About VINCI Airports
The world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports, operates more than 70 airports in 13 countries. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimising operational performance, modernising infrastructure and managing their operations and environmental transition. VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy in 2016 to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions across its entire network by 2050.