The first passengers for the �21m upgrade at Belfast City Airport have passed through the new terminal building.

They checked in to the new two-storey terminal to catch the 0840 BST flight to Gatwick on Sunday.

The 100,000 sq ft terminal has larger arrivals and departures areas than previously.

It has 20 check-in desks, fast track business facilities, executive lounges, business and conference facilities, bars, restaurants and retail outlets.

Airside, there are 10 aircraft stands compared to the previous eight.

Competition

The City Airport hopes that, with its improved facilities and central position, it will be able to compete on an even playing field with Belfast International Airport, which is sited about 15 miles from the city centre.

The City Airport is now one of the busiest regional airports in the UK and has seen a 15 fold increase in traffic since it opened in 1983.

It now handles almost 50% of all scheduled domestic air traffic to and from Northern Ireland - about 1.3m passengers a year.

The rival International Airport handled 3.1m passengers last year.

Privately funded

The new facilities have been designed to handle up to two million passengers annually.

Airport director John Doran said everything was in place for the overnight switch from the existing complex on Saturday night.

"We are delighted by the way everything has worked out and I am confident the public will like what they see."

The airport did not qualify for any public funding and all the costs were footed by Bombardier Aerospace, the Canadian parent company of Shorts which owns and runs the airport.