Ulsterbus 109A

£5–£7 to Antrim on Ulsterbus 109A beats doubling back via Belfast

Ulsterbus 109A runs from Belfast International Airport (T1 arrivals forecourt) toward Antrim and beyond, and it makes more sense than the 300 if you’re not actually going into Belfast city centre. One Reddit regular pointed out that going straight to Antrim on the 109A is “handier than going into Belfast on the 300 and back out again,” especially if you’re visiting family in towns along that corridor.

The 109A is a standard Ulsterbus regional service operated by Translink, not an airport-branded shuttle, and typical single fares to Antrim sit in the roughly £5–£7 range depending on concessions and onward zones. Buses board at the main bus stands directly outside T1 arrivals, a 1–2 minute walk from baggage reclaim, with printed Translink timetables usually posted on the shelter.

Frequency is the catch: unlike the 300 Belfast service, which can run every 15–30 minutes at busy times, the 109A is closer to a classic regional timetable with gaps of 60 minutes or more off‑peak. One Reddit commenter flagged that you can’t just walk out of arrivals and assume there will be a 109A waiting, so check the Translink site or app against your scheduled landing time before you book flights or trains from Antrim.

The route is set up for people heading toward Antrim town and stops served beyond, so regulars use it specifically to avoid paying a 300 fare into Belfast and then a second fare back out again. Over a couple of trips per year, skipping that double-back can save you two extra bus tickets per person compared with routing via Europa Buscentre in the city.

Complaints usually come from visitors who mix up the various Ulsterbus stands at BFS and accidentally join the Belfast-bound queue for the 300, assuming everything heads into the city. The 109A signage for Antrim can be easy to miss in a busy arrival bank, especially if there are three or four buses on stand at once, so check the electronic display for “109A Antrim” before you get on.

Step-by-step from arrivals

• 1. After exiting baggage reclaim in T1, walk straight out the main doors toward the signed “Bus & Coach” area; it’s about 100 metres from the carousel exit.
• 2. Look for the Translink stands on the left-hand side and find the pole or shelter showing route 109A toward Antrim; don’t join the line for the 300 Belfast service by default.
• 3. Check the timetable poster or use the Translink app to confirm the next 109A departure time and destination, which should list “Antrim” or the onward town you’re heading toward.
• 4. Board the bus when it arrives, confirm with the driver that it’s the 109A for your stop, and pay the single fare in cash (pounds sterling) or with a contactless card, which typically prices in the £5–£7 bracket to Antrim.
• 5. Keep your ticket handy, listen for announcements or watch the stop display if available, and ring the bell one stop before yours; from BFS to Antrim town centre usually takes around 20–30 minutes depending on traffic.

One tip: before your trip, screenshot the specific 109A departure that lines up with your flight arrival window so you’re not trying to load the timetable on patchy airport Wi‑Fi while the bus pulls in.