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Londonderry Airport
Airport Hotels, Airport Car Rental, Parking, Maps, Flights and Airport Information

Londonderry Airport

The City of Derry Airport serves the entire North West region of Ireland and is located seven miles northeast of Northern Ireland's second largest city - the historic walled city of Londonderry. Twenty minutes from the airport you cross into the magical county of Donegal with its dramatic highlands and rugged coastline. A short journey northeast from the airport leads you to the tranquil Glens of Antrim and the beautiful Causeway Coast.

Our airport is your gateway to one of Ireland's most beautiful regions. We hope you visit soon.

HOTELS   (Click Here)
Where to stay? International Airport Guide offers discounted rates on Londonderry Airport Hotels. We have negotiated rates offering 45% off hotel rack rates. All hotels are quality rated through AAA or Mobil Travel Guide, the industry's most trusted sources.

Our special consortium rates with local airport hotels will ensure that you are receiving the lowest rates on Airport Hotels near Londonderry Airport.

Airport Facts

City of Derry Airport (IATA: LDY, ICAO: EGAE) near Lough Foyle and the village of Eglinton, seven miles north east of the walled city of Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Passenger numbers in 2004 were almost 239,000.

The airport has its origins in World War II. In 1941 an RAF air base was established as home to No. 133 Squadron RAF which flew Hurricane fighters in defence of the city. In 1942 the base was occupied by No. 41 Squadron RAF. In 1943 the airfield became a Fleet Air Arm base called HMS Gannet and was home to which provided convoy air cover as part of the Second Battle of the Atlantic.

After the war the base remained a military establishment until the 1950's when the Ministry of Defence returned much of the land to the original landowners.

Some limited commercial activities were undertaken at the airfield during the 1960's when Emerald Airways operated a Glasgow service. During the 1970's the only flying at Eglinton was carried out by Eglinton Flying Club which is still based at the airport. In 1978 Londonderry County Borough Council decided to purchase the airfield with a view to improving the transport infrastructure for the North-West of Ireland. The airport has slowly developed since then. Loganair introduced the first scheduled flight between Derry and Glasgow in 1979 and it still operates today. This route was the only route for ten years until British Airways introduced a daily Manchester service in 1989.

A major redevelopment programme was undertaken by the Council from 1989 to 1993 with grant aid from the European Regional Development Fund. £10.5 million was spent upgrading all of the facilities at the airport including runways, taxiways, access roads, navigation equipment and runway lighting, as well as a new purpose-built terminal and fire station. The new terminal was officially opened in March 1994.