Transport
It is our policy to provide a realistic choice of transport for all visitors and staff, within the framework of the Regional and Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plans. GBBCA is conscious that there are environmental consequences from those travelling to and from the airport and we liaise with Translink and others to encourage the use of more sustainable transport modes.
With the growth of the airport, the number of visitors and staff accessing the airport has also grown. In response to this growth, GBBCA has developed a number of strategies to manage the surface access to the airport:
• GBBCA has worked closely with Translink to encourage and support the development of a direct bus service between the airport and Belfast city centre. This service currently operates up to every 20 minutes (at peak
times).
• Following the opening of the new terminal building, GBBCA invested in the construction of an underpass to reduce traffic congestion on the Sydenham Bypass and ease the flow of traffic to Belfast and the motorways.
• GBBCA facilitates the operation of a direct bus service to Londonderry (
The Airporter)
• The number of licensed taxis operating from the airport taxi rank has been increased.
• As a 'strategic gateway' to the province, GBBCA has been closely involved in the development of the
Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan. Included within this plan are outline strategies to further encourage the use of public transport by those accessing Belfast along the North Down/A2 corridor. GBBCA welcomes these proposals and is ready to engage with Translink and others to pursue these opportunities. GBBCA will continue to work closely with government to increase the use of public transport.
Statistics on the number of airport passengers using airport bus services:
| Period |
Airport passengers |
Bus passengers |
% of airport passengers using bus services |
| 2008 |
2,560,059 |
167,676 |
6.55% |
| 2009 |
2,605,359 |
182,598 |
7.01% |
| 2010 |
2,725,828 |
207,535 |
7.61% |
| 2011 |
2,384,929 |
156,603 |
6.57% |
Although we only have a small fleet of vehicles under our direct control, we are conscious of the contribution that they make to our carbon footprint. For this reason, we commenced monitoring fuel consumption by our company fleet in 2010. Using this data we have approximated that our climate change impact from our company fleet was 132 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2010 and 100 tonnes of CO2e in 2011.