14 | BEST IN THE UK: CITY OF DERRY AIRPORT
BEST IN SHOW: CITY OF DERRY AIRPORT FLIES HIGH IN THE RANKS
BY SARAH PICKERING
sarah@nitravelnews.com
NI Travel News’ Sarah and Erin travelled to the madien city to check out the UK’s best ranked airport- From new routes, to airport linkups, City of Derry have vastly improved the connectivity of the region, all
whilst outpreforming
its counterparts across the UK & Ireland...
RANKED the best airport in the UK, City of Derry Airport sits on a throne not many have been able to touch in the UK- NI Travel News’ Erin and Sarah took the opportunity to check it out and see just why passengers love this airport.
the airport was used as an army base before converting
Londonderry Eglinton
Opening back in 1941 as RAF Eglinton, into
Airport. Renamed in 1994, City of Derry Airport became the now-known regional airport found in the nearby outskirts of Derry/Londonderry in the village of Eglinton, hence the previous name.
In a survey conducted by gadget insurer, Loveit Coverit, City of Derry Airport has been ranked the best airport in the UK based on online passenger reviews, earning a score of 4.5 out of 5.
Commenting on the best elements of travelling via City of Derry, Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, stated:
“Firstly, the warm welcome and personable service from our staff, who know many of our passengers by first name, is something you won’t always find at an Airport. “As the ‘Gateway of the Northwest’ for over 40 years, we are proud to provide the region with the convenience of flying local, and reduced travel time and cost as we offer the best priced Airport Parking on the island of Ireland. With single level access and less than 15 mins from our car park to our departure gate, our passengers can enjoy a stress-free start to their trip.” Mr. Frazer added: “Our Amelia Earhart Lounge offers a comfortable, private space with beautiful views, as well as the service
of stuff. I could not
have asked
for a more kinder, patient,
helpful
ground, security, and airport staff. A big thank you to you all.”
A spokesperson for Loveit Coverit
commented on the study: “The study proves that bigger doesn’t always mean better, as it highlights smaller airports like Derry and Humberside that have managed to shine with outstanding customer experiences, surpassing their larger counterparts.” City of Derry Airport is a well used airport with the opportunity to travel to a number of destinations across the UK and beyond. Loganair operates direct services between City of Derry Airport and Liverpool and Glasgow, and both direct travel and through fares to international destinations with the new London Heathrow service. Flights to London Heathrow are available three times daily with onward connectivity to 119 destinations across 56 countries via Loganair’s codeshare and interline partners. Ryanair also provides budget-friendly fares to Manchester throughout the week. Summer holidays to the Algarve and Majorca are also a regular thing through the airport with 2024 now on sale with City of Derry Airport’s award-winning travel partner, Travel Solutions. Alongside Travel Solutions, Joe Walsh Tours also operate pilgrimages to Lourdes via City of Derry Airport, and a Topflight school ski programme to Verona is running for the first time from the Northwest from January – March 2024, and is already
of our lounge team. The team offers private group bookings for special occasions or for any passengers who require a calm area prior to flying. “We look forward to w e l c o m i n g passengers with our own world class welcome and customer service experience.” One online review from the survey from a passenger travelling through City of Derry Airport stated: “All the staff I came across on my
journey yesterday were amazing. I was travelling with 2 kids and a dog so we had lots
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But what is it about Northern Ireland’s smallest airport that passengers love, and return to time and time again?
Car parking charges are a major talking point for any airport, with many facilities coming under fire at criticism due to hefty fees and drop-off charges. This, however, does not extend to City of Derry Airport. Here, you will find the cheapest car parking charges of any of the airports on the Island of Ireland. With parking and drop off fees starting at £1 for two hours, passengers are immediately met by friendly prices which, in effect, helps to heighten the experience of the airport- I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of not feeling pressure to rush from the car to the front door in fear of spending a small fortune on drop off charges? Speaking of, the staff at City of Derry airport assured me that 9 times out of 10, passengers make it from the car park to the gate in just over 20 minutes- a dream for those travelling with kids, or those who just like to live life on the edge! (Of course, we don’t suggest you test this timing to the minute- We won’t be held accountable for any missed flights!). Stress-free drop offs and speedy airport waiting times, what more could you want? Upon entering the airport you will find a
“We will have the next generation C3 cabin baggage scanners in place before June next year and we aim to be the first NI airport to be fully operational with these.” - Steve Frazer
small, yet effective space for arrivals and departures, with car hire facilities, check in desks, a Tourism NI business hub and a ‘pop- up’ Fed & Watered, the official dining facility within the airport. With an annual footfall of £650,000 with full capacity, it is clear to see why the airport is thriving and busy, with facilities to suit all kinds of travellers. Although small, the security facility within the airport is effective and well run, with informative and friendly staff ushering those through to their final journey; This can only get better as Managing Director for the airport, Steve Frazer explained, “We will have the next generation C3 cabin baggage scanners in place before June next year (2024) and we aim to be the first NI airport to be fully operational with these.”. This mandatory change will allow passengers to experience a smoother transition from door to gate as liquids can remain in all hand luggage. Quick and simple. Having reached the final destination before boarding a flight, passengers are greeted by a roomy waiting area with multiple screens scattered around the room with relevant flight information; So sit back and have a pint or two in the main Fed & Watered dining facility.
Choose
from traybakes, hot meals and packed, flight- friendly food and watch the world go by. Maybe you have filled up
before going through security? Not to worry. The duty free section of the airport is filled with local crafts, food and jewellery to ensure all those departing have the perfect gift to take on their way. From local Derry City F.C football tops, to Derry Girls memorabilia, the shop has all the unique memories of Derry/
from Derry to Denver through a single layover, travellers will also be saving money on their flights. How so? As passengers will be getting on board their flights from City of Derry airport, APD (Air Passenger Duty) will not be charged as it normally is with direct International
flights.In theory, passengers will be able to book from Derry to New York via Loganair and from one of the 13 interline airlines associated with the flight move; Direct sale is available on all airlines such as Etihad, KLM/Air France, Emirates and British Airways meaning the cost of APD is quashed. Turkish Airlines is the only airline to not be included within this.
This is a major boost for the airport which takes in three catchment areas, including Donegal; the improved connectivity will also help encourage tourism to this region and provide a gateway not yet seen in Northern Ireland- Having the ability to allow passengers in the North West to travel locally to the airport with low-cost parking, short waiting times,
updated facilities
and unmatched connectivity is a major achievement for this island and one of which we should be celebrating.
So what are you waiting for? Book your next trip through City of Derry Airport.
Turn to page 56 to see what this city has to offer for tourists and locals alike...
September/October 2023
Londonderry crammed into this one shop. Of course, you can not forget Girls’ Aloud star Nadine Coyle; A L/Derry native and an active user of the airport, Miss Coyle has her own skincare brand which is available from the duty free section also.
Looking for that extra bit of peace and quiet? Named after the famous American aviation pioneer,
light snacks and comfortable the Amelia Earhart
lounge is tucked away from the waiting area where passengers can make use of the complimentary tea and coffee making facilities,
seating, all with the perfect views of the runway and the picturesque mountains (you may also catch a glimpse of the train which runs directly alongside the runway). The lounge can be pre-booked and costs £15 per person- Yet another aspect which City of Derry have come out on top in terms of prices compared to competitors. Where can I go? As mentioned, City of Derry Airport now connects to 119 destinations within 56 countries, alongside working with operators such as Travel Solutions and Joe Walsh Tours. Its biggest airline operator is Loganair, who run 3 daily flights to Heathrow, having made the switch recently from Stansted. This flight switch has opened an abundance of opportunity for City of Derry Airport in a bid to ‘connect the North West to the World’ and through doing so has connected NI with many different airline operators not available direct,
including international capabilities. Not only can passengers travel
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