Connectivity back on the Stormont agenda

As MLAs return to Stormont after the summer recess, connectivity is likely to remain firmly on the agenda: how people move around Northern Ireland, and how Northern Ireland connects with the wider world.

People experience this in practical ways. In Belfast, the late-night bus pilot has offered another option for getting home after an evening in the city. Around 30,000 journeys were made over the festive period in 2025/26, prompting Belfast Night Czar Michael Stewart’s message: “use it or lose it.”

The early numbers suggest demand is there, but they also point to a wider truth: good transport options need both public use and sustained investment.

That same conversation is increasingly taking place around airports and rail. The economic case is clear, with the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee identifying road and rail infrastructure as challenges affecting businesses’ ability to invest and grow.

More than 9.2 million passengers travelled through Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry airports in 2025, underlining aviation’s importance to Northern Ireland.

Several developments are on the horizon. Belfast City Airport has brought forward proposals within its Master Plan 2040, including a rail halt directly serving the airport. If delivered in time, it could make Belfast City the first airport on the island of Ireland with a dedicated rail connection serving its terminal.

Meanwhile, reopening the Antrim–Knockmore Line, including a possible link to Belfast International Airport, continues to be raised at Stormont. It reflects growing interest in connecting airports with public transport and giving passengers more choice.

Aviation policy will also be worth watching. The Department for the Economy’s consultation closed in May, with a new policy expected this autumn. Air Passenger Duty, route development, skills and decarbonisation all form part of that discussion.

Taxi provision is another pressure point. Driver numbers in Northern Ireland have fallen by more than 25% compared with pre-Covid levels, while the review of Class C licensing, which applies to ride-sharing apps but not traditional taxis, is expected to return to the Minister for Infrastructure before the end of the mandate.

None of these issues sits in isolation.

From late-night buses to rail links and international routes, people increasingly expect transport options that fit their lives. Delivering that will require long-term planning, collaboration and investment. For that reason, connectivity is likely to remain an important part of the Stormont conversation in the months ahead.