2024 has been a landmark year for Ireland West Airport, as it records its highest-ever passenger traffic in the airport’s history. With a 2% increase in passengers, the airport welcomed 834,000 travellers, surpassing the previous record of 817,000 set in 2023.
Ireland West Airport Chairman Arthur French, said “We are delighted to report a record year for passenger numbers at the airport, the second consecutive year of record passenger traffic. Demand for our routes and services from right across the region and from overseas continues to grow and this is reflected in achieving record passenger numbers of 834,000 in 2024. I would like to thank the outgoing Government, Ministers and TDs for their support for the airport in 2024, and we look forward to working with the new Government representatives in continuing to further develop and grow the airport from 2025 onwards. In addition, I wish to express our continued gratitude to our customers, airline and tour operator partners, stakeholders, tourism groups and Local Authority partners for their ongoing support in helping us to continue to grow passenger numbers and develop international connectivity for the region.”
The airport’s busiest month of the year was August, with a total of 90,355 passengers passing through the terminal. The month also saw the highest number of passengers on a single day, with over 3,600 individuals traveling on Sunday, August 18th. Throughout 2024, Ireland West Airport saw almost 6,000 flight arrivals and departures, underscoring the growing demand for its services.
The number of passengers traveling on flights to and from the United Kingdom reached 667,732, marking a modest 1% increase compared to 2023. However, the standout growth came from services to mainland Europe.
A record 165,500 passengers flew to destinations including Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Majorca, Malaga, Milan, Cologne, Lanzarote, and Tenerife. This represented a significant 9% increase from the previous year, further solidifying the airport’s role as a key hub for European connectivity.
Ryanair marked its busiest-ever year at Ireland West Airport, with significant passenger numbers traveling to popular destinations like Liverpool and London Luton. Aer Lingus also achieved a record year, with its London Heathrow service continuing to perform strongly.
Image Credit: Ireland West Airport
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 10 January 2025 All Rights Reserved
