The short answer
Helicopter charter Belfast uses George Best Belfast City Airport, five minutes from the centre, or Belfast International Airport, which is open 24 hours. Glasgow is about 45 to 55 minutes by helicopter, Edinburgh 55 to 65, Liverpool 60 to 80 and Manchester 65 to 90. There is no road link across the Irish Sea, so we give flight times only.
Flying from Belfast? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- City site
- George Best Belfast City Airport, Sydenham Bypass, Belfast
- City airport hours (as published, checked 29 Sep 2026)
- Airfield 06:30 to 21:30 daily; positioning and non-scheduled flights not accepted after 21:30
- International site
- Belfast International Airport, Crumlin: 24 hours, customs on site, no slots
- Helicopters at Belfast International
- Prior permission from the airport duty manager because parking is limited
- Customs
- City airport by arrangement; International on site 24 hours
- Distance between the two
- About 12 nautical miles
- Road link to Great Britain
- None. Times to Britain are flight times only
Where Belfast flights start and end
The map shows George Best Belfast City Airport and the other sites that serve Belfast, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. George Best Belfast City Airport is at Belfast City Airport, Sydenham Bypass, Belfast. Open it in Google Maps.
George Best Belfast City Airport
Choose a place
Hover, or tap, a pin for the details
Sites that serve Belfast
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
George Best Belfast City Airport EGAC / BHD
- Address
- Belfast City Airport, Sydenham Bypass, Belfast
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
Airfield 06:30–21:30 daily (extended to 23:59 only in exceptional circumstances for delayed aircraft); terminal from…
Airfield 06:30–21:30 daily (extended to 23:59 only in exceptional circumstances for delayed aircraft); terminal from 05:30. Positioning and non-scheduled flights are not accepted after 21:30.- Permission
- No PPR published; we still confirm before you fly
- Customs
- By arrangement / prior notice
- Runway
- 04/22 – 1,829 m × 45 m asphalt (grooved)
Belfast International Airport EGAA / BFS
- Address
- Belfast International Airport, Airport Road, Crumlin, Belfast
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- H24 – airfield, ATC, customs and immigration, security all 24 hours; no night curfew and no slots required.
- Permission
- No PPR published; we still confirm before you fly
- Customs
- Yes – on site (H24)
- Runway
- 07/25 – 2,780 m × 45 m asphalt (grooved); secondary 17/35 – 1,891 m
Which airport is best for a helicopter in Belfast?
For helicopter charter Belfast trips there are two airports and the choice is simple. George Best Belfast City Airport is about five minutes from the city centre and has a separate business jet centre away from the passenger terminal. Its airfield is open 06:30 to 21:30, and non-scheduled flights are not accepted after 21:30, so late-evening private flights go elsewhere. It does not require prior permission, but customs for international trips are arranged in advance.
Belfast International Airport at Crumlin is about 12 nautical miles away. It runs 24 hours, with customs on site, no slots and no night curfew. Handling is mandatory for every flight, and civil helicopters need permission from the airport duty manager because parking is limited. We arrange that when you book.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. We also look after landings at private sites, subject to landing permission.
Journey times from George Best Belfast City Airport
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 90 nm (104 mi) | 45 to 55 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Edinburgh | 117 nm (135 mi) | 55 to 65 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Aintree Racecourse | 124 nm (142 mi) | 55 to 70 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Liverpool | 132 nm (152 mi) | 60 to 75 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Newcastle | 147 nm (169 mi) | 65 to 80 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Manchester | 148 nm (170 mi) | 65 to 85 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Leeds | 155 nm (178 mi) | 70 to 85 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| York Racecourse | 172 nm (198 mi) | 75 to 95 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Birmingham | 196 nm (226 mi) | 85 to 105 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 212 nm (244 mi) | 90 to 115 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Cardiff | 214 nm (246 mi) | 95 to 115 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Bristol | 225 nm (259 mi) | 1 h 35 min to 2 h | No road link | Not applicable |
| Silverstone | 231 nm (266 mi) | 1 h 40 min to 2 h 05 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Oxford | 234 nm (269 mi) | 1 h 40 min to 2 h 05 min | No road link | Not applicable |
Times from Belfast Airport
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | 95 nm (109 mi) | 45 to 55 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Edinburgh | 124 nm (143 mi) | 55 to 70 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Aintree Racecourse | 135 nm (156 mi) | 60 to 75 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Liverpool | 143 nm (164 mi) | 65 to 80 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Newcastle | 158 nm (182 mi) | 70 to 90 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Manchester | 160 nm (184 mi) | 70 to 90 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Leeds | 167 nm (192 mi) | 75 to 90 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| York Racecourse | 184 nm (212 mi) | 80 to 100 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Birmingham | 207 nm (238 mi) | 90 to 110 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Cardiff | 222 nm (255 mi) | 1 h 35 min to 2 h | No road link | Not applicable |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 222 nm (255 mi) | 1 h 35 min to 2 h | No road link | Not applicable |
| Bristol | 234 nm (269 mi) | 1 h 40 min to 2 h 05 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Silverstone | 242 nm (279 mi) | 1 h 45 min to 2 h 10 min | No road link | Not applicable |
| Oxford | 244 nm (281 mi) | 1 h 45 min to 2 h 10 min | No road link | Not applicable |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
How long are the flights from Belfast?
Everything beyond Northern Ireland is over water, and there is no road time to compare. From Belfast City, Glasgow is about 45 to 55 minutes by helicopter. Edinburgh is 55 to 65 minutes, Liverpool 60 to 75, Newcastle 65 to 80, Manchester 65 to 85 and Leeds 70 to 85 minutes.
Further south, Birmingham is 85 to 105 minutes and Cardiff 95 to 115. Crossings are planned with fuel and alternates in mind, and the pilot decides whether the weather and sea conditions allow the flight. We do not invent ferry or scheduled-air comparisons here; ask us for the details of your own route. The journey-time guide explains our figures, and the Glasgow page and Liverpool page cover the other ends of the commonest crossings.
Who charters helicopters from Belfast?
Belfast's economy mixes financial services, software and cyber security, advanced engineering and creative industries, with the Titanic Quarter and Belfast Harbour the best-known business districts and Stormont the seat of government. Executives who need to be in Glasgow, Liverpool or London in one day, and those who live outside Belfast and want to avoid the airport queue, find the helicopter practical. See business helicopter charter and same-day business trips.
Northern Ireland also has links courses, and golf days with clients are a regular request; see golf by helicopter. Windsor Park hosts football; see football by helicopter. Where security matters, read secure helicopter transport.
Where does the rest of Northern Ireland fit?
Newtownards (Ards) Aerodrome is about 7 nautical miles from the city airport, and City of Derry Airport is 40 nautical miles from Belfast International. Beyond those, private landing sites such as estates and hotels are possible with permission. The Northern Ireland region page covers the whole province, and Scotland, the nearest part of Britain, is on the Scotland region page. The directory for Wales, Northern Ireland and the islands lists every site.
Booking from Belfast
Send date, route and passenger weights. We confirm the airport, handling and timings. Arrive 10 minutes before departure with luggage in soft bags where the hold is small. Landing at a house, hotel or venue is subject to landing permission and site suitability.
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For price guidance, see helicopterhireprices.co.uk.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to George Best Belfast City Airport, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a road or rail link from Belfast to Great Britain?
No. The Irish Sea separates them, so we give helicopter flight times only and no car time.
Which Belfast airport takes helicopters?
Both. The City airport needs no prior permission but closes at 21:30 to non-scheduled flights. Belfast International runs 24 hours but asks for permission from the duty manager for civil helicopters.
How long is Belfast to Glasgow by helicopter?
About 45 to 55 minutes, depending on the site and conditions.
Can I fly into Belfast late at night?
Use Belfast International, which has no curfew, customs on site and 24-hour operation.
Do crossings of the Irish Sea need a special helicopter?
We plan overwater routes carefully with the pilot, usually in twin-engine helicopters. Ask when you book.
