Derry, United Kingdom
Smoking policy at Derry, City of Derry Airport (LDY)
Warnings & Caveats
There are no airside smoking facilities. Connecting passengers who need to smoke must exit the terminal and re-clear security, which takes additional time. Smoking inside the terminal building is prohibited under the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006.
City of Derry Airport (LDY) has no smoking facilities inside the terminal building at all. The rules here are straightforward: smoking is only permitted in designated outdoor areas outside the terminal, and there is nothing available once you have cleared security.
Before Security
You can smoke outside the terminal building in the designated outdoor areas before you go through security. The photos from the airport show:
A standalone ashtray/litter bin unit positioned directly outside the main terminal entrance doors, on the paved forecourt area.
A bench and combined litter/ashtray bin unit positioned along the terminal frontage, near a Danske Bank advertising hoarding.
A covered area near the bus stop outside the terminal, with a litter bin and bench, which appears to be another spot where smokers gather.
These are open-air, landside spots that anyone can use before checking in or after arriving. No boarding pass is required.
After Security
There are no smoking facilities airside at City of Derry Airport. Once you pass through security, you cannot smoke until you exit the terminal on the other side. The BBC confirmed in January 2025 that City of Derry Airport was already without any airside smoking area at that point, noting it alongside Belfast City Airport as having no facilities inside the terminal.
Connecting Flights and Transit
If you are connecting through LDY and need to smoke, the only option is to exit the terminal completely, smoke in the designated outdoor area, and then go back through security again for your onward flight. This is confirmed by the airportsmokers.com source. Factor in extra time if you plan to do this, as re-clearing security adds meaningful time to your transit.
Legal Context
Smoking restrictions at LDY are governed by the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, which prohibit smoking in all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places. This is why there are no indoor smoking rooms or airside facilities.
Bottom Line
Smoke before you go through security, outside the terminal entrance. Once airside, there is nothing available, so plan accordingly.
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