Runway Events and Passenger Donations Power Support for Air Ambulance NI

(NEWS) BELFAST, Northern Ireland, 2026-Jan-22 — /Travel PR News/ — Air Ambulance NI has received more than £140,000 in charitable funding following the conclusion of a two-year partnership with Belfast City Airport, which supported the charity as its official Charity Partner. Based on details shared in official updates from both organisations, the contribution reflects funds raised through passenger donations, staff-led initiatives and airport-hosted events, and will help sustain the region’s only Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.

Established in 2017 and operating in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Air Ambulance NI provides rapid pre-hospital critical care across Northern Ireland, responding to emergencies 12 hours a day throughout the year. According to information released by the charity, the funds raised through the collaboration will contribute to maintaining the helicopter fleet and supporting specialist medical crews delivering time-critical care at incident scenes and during hospital transfers.

The partnership saw Belfast City Airport host a series of fundraising activities over the two-year period, ranging from terminal collections and staff events to larger public initiatives. Among the most visible was the annual Belfast City Airport Runway Run, which brought hundreds of participants onto the airport runway for a 5K event designed to raise both funds and awareness of the charity’s work, based on official partnership summaries.

Representatives from both organisations highlighted the broader impact of the collaboration beyond fundraising. Official statements point to increased public awareness of emergency medical aviation and the role it plays within Northern Ireland’s healthcare network, with the airport’s central location providing access to a wide and diverse audience.

As the partnership comes to a close, the contribution is positioned as a meaningful investment in a critical public service. Based on official comments, the collaboration underscores how transport hubs and emergency services can work together to generate long-term community benefit, supporting lifesaving operations while strengthening local engagement.

The partnership also builds on Belfast City Airport’s decision to name Air Ambulance NI as its Charity Partner for 2024 and 2025. Based on official announcement made at the outset of the collaboration, the designation committed the airport to raising funds and awareness for the charity’s helicopter-based emergency medical service, which operates year-round in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. At the time, representatives from both organisations highlighted the importance of sustained financial support for Air Ambulance NI, which relies on charitable contributions to meet the annual costs of maintaining its operations and delivering rapid critical care across Northern Ireland.

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