City of Derry Airport

City of Derry Airport , previously known as RAF Eglinton and Londonderry Eglinton Airport, is a regional airport located northeast of Derry, Northern Ireland. It is located on the south bank of Lough Foyle, a short distance from the village of Eglinton and from the city centre. The airport, also known locally as Eglinton Airport, has experienced a decline in passenger numbers in recent years. In 2022, 163,130 passengers used the airport, having peaked at 438,996 in 2008. Loganair and Ryanair both serve the airport on domestic routes to England and Scotland. Whilst AlbaStar, British Airways and Air Nostrum serve the airport with international services to the European Continent The airport has its origins in the Second World War. In 1941, the Royal Air Force (RAF) Eglinton air base was established as the home to No. 133 Squadron RAF which flew Hawker Hurricanes 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 RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet) and was home to No. 1847 Fleet Air Arm Squadron which provided convoy air cover as part of the Battle of the Atlantic. RNAS Eglinton closed in April 1959 with the remaining squadrons moving to RAF Ballyhalbert, County Down and RAF Ballykelly, County Londonderry. After the war, the base remained a military establishment until the 1950s when the Ministry of Defence returned much of the land to the original landowners. The original name of the airport was Londonderry Eglinton Airport and it was usually just referred to as "Eglinton". Some limited commercial activities were undertaken at the airfield during the 1960s when Emerald Airways operated a service to Glasgow. Emerald built a new terminal building and control tower to support services with the first flight to Glasgow operating on 16 September 1967. During most of the 1970s, the only flying at Eglinton was carried out by Eglinton Flying Club which is still based at the airport.