[3] The majority of flights from Belfast International are operated by easyJet, Northern Ireland's biggest airline.

The airfield was previously shared with the Royal Air Force base RAF Aldergrove, which closed in 2008.

The base is now known as Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station, Aldergrove, and both runways are now owned by the airport.

Civil traffic began in 1922,[dubious – discuss] when flights were conducted to fly newspapers from Chester.

[5] This was subsequently augmented by a twice-daily, return service to Croydon, at that time London's airport, with stops at the Isle of Man, Liverpool and Birmingham.

One of the outcomes of the wartime airfield construction programme was the building of Nutts Corner Airport, just 3 mi (4.8 km) from Aldergrove.

By the 1950s civil air traffic had outstripped the facilities at Nutts Corner and aircraft were being regularly diverted to Aldergrove because of adverse weather conditions.

In July 1959 the decision was made to move civil flights to Aldergrove to take advantage of the large airfield and this took place in October 1963.

A major programme of airfield upgrades was undertaken, resulting in improvements to runways, taxiways and the parking apron.

A new International Pier was built together with lounge facilities and car parks, while an additional apron was provided to separate the smaller general aviation aircraft from large commercial jets.

In 1983 the airport, renamed Belfast International, was regularly accommodating the largest civil aircraft in service and with the installation of new technology was capable of all-weather operations.

TBI became the new owner of the airport on 13 August 1996, by which time annual passenger numbers had reached 2.5 million.

[15] In July 2022, Ryanair announced that they will be returning to Belfast International Airport, in addition to opening a base.

[16] In summer 2023, work began on a significant terminal expansion, to accommodate new security scanning equipment.

The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights to and from Belfast–International:[18] Woodgate Aviation has a base at the airport, featuring a private jet terminal, with facilities to accommodate small aircraft.

The off-site short- or long-stay car park, called 'Park and Fly', is located just before the main entrance to the airport, and is also serviced by a courtesy bus.

[60] Translink operates an express bus service 300 to the airport from its Belfast Grand Central.