Belfast International to get new security building

The owner of Belfast International Airport is investing £100m in a five-year expansion plan which will include a new security building and solar farm.

VINCI Airports operates more than 70 airports in 13 countries and acquired the airport in 2018.

The plan's first phase is under way.

It includes construction of a new £25m security building with screening technology that means passengers will no longer have to remove liquids or electronics from luggage.

It is due to be up and running by June 2024.

The UK government has issued a deadline for airports to install "new security technology, spelling the eventual end to 100ml rule on liquids at large airports".

CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports, Nicolas Notebaert, said: "We are ready, the work has already started, we did not wait for Covid traffic to recover.

"We have new routes, both Easyjet, Ryanair and other airlines are creating routes, we have more than 70 routes now at Belfast International and in the same move we are prepared for new investment in all directions."

The airport was opened 60 years ago this year and this construction has revealed some of the features that were built back in 1963.

The investment plan will also revamp existing facilities, expanding immigration, adding departure gates, seating, catering and retail outlets over the next five years.

It has also announced a 26 MWp new solar farm on the airport site which will generate 22.4 GWh of electricity and save 12,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Managing Director at Belfast International Airport Graham Keddie said the investment is "well needed".

"The way we are phasing it, it takes a long time to use these phases and we're on 41 phases so far, but our plan is not to disrupt operations and this is why we have to do it in a phased manner," he said.

"So it will be rolled through across the airport to make sure that we do not disrupt travel or our operational capabilities during the build periods," he added.

Passengers will welcome the news as they have often taking to social media to complain about long queues and delays at airport security.

Mr Keddie said: "For this summer, queue times are well below average in the UK, our 'happy or not' scores have been very very high so we've got that fixed throughout this summer.

"What will happen with this new security building is a better passenger experience as people do not need to empty their bags, they do not need to put their liquids in small bags so it makes a huge difference to the passenger experience."