Cork Airport records strong start to 2024

'All signs point to it being a record year for passenger numbers,' says Daa

Some 193,000 passengers travelled through Cork Airport in February. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork Airport saw a 23% rise in passenger numbers in February compared with the same month last year, new figures show.

The month saw 193,000 passengers travel through the Cork terminal while 2.1m passengers travelled through Dublin Airport, a 5% increase on last year.

Kenny Jacobs, CEO of Daa which operates both airports, said the strong start to 2024 points to another record year for passenger numbers through Cork. He said the February increase was the result of strong demand for European and UK destinations and the extra day with the Leap Year. 

"The first two months have been busy in Cork and all signs point to it being a record year for passenger numbers," said Mr Jacobs.

Daa said Cork Airport handled 1,345 flights with an average load factor of 82%, slightly higher than the 81% load factor for Dublin Airport's 16,242 flights in February. Friday, February 16, was the busiest day during the month at Cork while Sunday, February 18, was the busiest day in Dublin.

It's been a really strong start to the year at both Cork and Dublin airports and we're seeing no let-up in the demand to fly."  

"That demand is being seen across the board, from business travel to family trips overseas. That's no surprise given the buoyant economy, with more and more businesses and workers looking to locate in Ireland, and also the dreary weather here during the early months of the year, which has encouraged many to head off in search of some winter sun.

"Numbers through Dublin Airport could obviously be higher, but growth remains constrained due to the terminal's cap of 32m passengers per annum.

"Ultimately raising the cap to 40m, as Daa has proposed in a recent planning application to Fingal County Council, would open the door to more routes and services, more tourists, more jobs, and more economic growth, and we hope that process moves quickly. 

"In the meantime, we are continuing to work proactively with the airlines and the Irish Aviation Authority as the slots regulator with a view to managing capacity."