Special Assistance at Belfast International Airport

Persons of Reduced Mobility (PRMs) using Belfast International Airport will be provided with assistance as and when required on their journey through the airport. Belfast International Airport (BIA) have contracted OCS to provide the assistance service.

OCS have well trained, competent staff and a range of specialist vehicles and equipment to ensure that every customer has a safe, efficient and comfortable transfer through the airport. On departure, the service is available from the customer’s point of arrival at the airport to their seat on the aircraft. On arrival, the service is available from the aircraft seat to the customer’s onward mode of transport. The OCS Assistance Desk is located to the left side of the Check In Hall. This service is provided free of charge.

How to obtain this assistance

To obtain assistance, please inform the Airline/Tour Operator when booking the flight or no later than 48 hours before the flight is due to operate. Please advise of the type of assistance required and if any personal mobility equipment such as a powered scooter or wheelchair will be used.

For those passengers who require special assistance around the terminal building or boarding / disembarking the aircraft.

Tel: +44 (0) 28 9448 4957 Email: ocs@bfs.aero

Autism Awareness at Belfast International Airport

Like any children, there are those on the autistic spectrum to whom flying poses no problem. For some little ones, however, routine and consistency is crucial to their everyday lives and the thought of doing something as out-of-the-ordinary as flying can be very upsetting.

It is always recommended to book assistance through your airline or tour operator at least 48 hours before departure or arrival at Belfast International Airport.

When booking assistance through your airline or tour operator, please book DPNA assistance, if there is an option to give further information regarding the assistance you require please type the word Autism. This will then enable our special assistance provider to give the appropriate level of help.

An Autism Awareness Lanyard is available to assist with your journey through the airport and can be collected on the day of travel from the OCS Special Assistance desk in the Check-In Hall on production of your boarding pass. The lanyard should be shown to Airport Staff where additional assistance or support may be required at any stage of your airport journey.

To help prepare for your trip and to ensure that your airport experience is as enjoyable and as stress free as possible, we have recently produced downloadable and printable booklets.

The booklets show pictures and words of what to expect during a journey through Belfast International Airport. There are lots of fun activities and interesting facts along the way.

If you have any further questions, please contact autism@bfs.aero

If you or someone you are travelling with have a Hidden Disability and feel you may need additional support as you travel independently through the Airport, we will be happy to provide you with a lanyard which will discreetly identify you to Airport staff as someone potentially requiring additional support.

Please note that the lanyard does not permit fast track through Security or Passport Control but is designed to alert staff that you may need some additional assistance or that you have a hidden disability so that we can guide you through the process as smoothly as possible.

For further information please email feedback@bfs.aero.

Blue Badge Holders - More Information here

Belfast International Airport is committed to working in partnership with disability organisations to make the airport as accessible as possible and continues to engage with various groups. We have continued to promote and encourage "Try before you fly / familiarization visits." and have assisted various disability groups and individual families to prepare for their journey through the airport by arranging visits and tours tailored to their individual needs.  More Information here