City of Derry Airport International Airport Designation for Licensing

UK New Legislation

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

The Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) has designated City of Derry Airport as an international airport under the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. This designation enables licensed premises within the airport's customs examination station to sell alcohol outside standard permitted hours. The Order comes into operation on 2 April 2026.

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What changed

This Statutory Rule formally designates City of Derry Airport as an international airport for purposes of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. The designation was made because the Department found a substantial amount of international passenger traffic at the airport and confirmed that reasonable facilities for non-alcoholic beverages are available alongside alcoholic drinks on licensed premises within the customs-approved examination station.\n\nAirport retailers and hospitality operators at City of Derry Airport with relevant licenses may now sell alcohol outside the hours normally prohibited under Article 41 of the Licensing Order. No compliance actions are required by regulated entities—this is an administrative designation that expands permissible operating hours for existing licensees. Businesses should review their licensing conditions to confirm applicability.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2026 No. 70

Licensing

The Licensing (City of Derry Airport) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026

Made

31st March 2026

Coming into operation

2nd April 2026

The Department for Communities (1) makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Article 53(1) of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (2) and now vested in it (3).

In accordance with Article 53(2)(a) of that Order, it appears to the Department that there is a substantial amount of international passenger traffic at City of Derry Airport.

In accordance with Article 53(2)(b) of that Order, the Department is satisfied that arrangements have been made for affording reasonable facilities on licensed premises within the examination station approved for that airport under section 22 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (4) for obtaining hot and cold beverages other than intoxicating liquor at all times when such liquor is obtainable for consumption in the premises.

Citation and commencement

This Order may be cited as The Licensing (City of Derry Airport) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 and shall come into operation on 2nd April 2026.

Specification of airport

City of Derry Airport is specified as an international airport.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department for Communities on 31st March 2026.

(L.S.)

Gerard Murray

A senior officer of the Department for Communities

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order specifies City of Derry Airport as an international airport.

Article 41 of the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 prohibits the sale, purchase, consumption or taking away of intoxicating liquor outside permitted hours. That prohibition does not apply to licensed premises within an examination station (approved under section 22 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979) at an airport specified as an international airport under Article 53(1) of that Order.

(1) Formerly the Department for Social Development, see section 1 (7) of the Departments Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (2016 c.5 (N.I.))

(2) S.I. 1996/3158 (N.I. 22)

(3) See Article 8(b) of and Part II of Schedule 6 to the Departments (Transfer and Assignment of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 (S.R. 1999 No. 481))

(4) 1979 c.2