Hi °C | Lo °C 
Many of the comments on the proposed expansion at George Best Belfast City Airport show little understanding of airport operations.
First, Belfast International airport is almost 23km, not 18km, from Belfast.
Second, while Ferrovial, the owner of the City airport, has agreed to depart and land as many aircraft as possible over Belfast Lough, this is not always feasible due to prevailing weather conditions.
GBBCA has clearly stated in the past that it is seeking modest yearly expansion and has accepted that most expansion in the local market should take place at Belfast International Airport.
However, I had reason to travel through BIA recently, my first visit to the airport in several years.
On arrival early in the morning, after an expensive taxi ride from Belfast, I was shocked and dismayed to witness how little the airport had changed, despite the year on year increase in passenger numbers.
While most other airports in the UK and Ireland have invested in better facilities to cater for the growth in passenger numbers, BIA continues to make do with an ancient relic of a terminal building with its haphazard layout and shabby appearance.
How must this look to first time visitors to the province? First impressions tend to be lasting impressions.
Basically, BIA seems to be stuck in a 1980s time warp and nothing short of massive investment by its current owners is urgently required for it to keep pace with current passenger needs.
It is little wonder GBBCA, by contrast, is so popular with passengers.
With a modern, well laid out and spacious terminal building, it is perfectly positioned to capitalise on increasing tourist interest in the province while providing easy access to our capital city. Perhaps some occasional support from local residents (of which I am one) would be more appropriate instead of unhelpful criticism.
Allan McCullough Belfast
