Passenger numbers up 17% at Cork Airport to 330,000 in May

Dublin Airport passenger figures were up 4.2% for the month

​Shirley ​Meehan ​with Kai ​Meehan, ​Farranree​ and Cian ​with Callie​ Duggan, ​Knocknaheeny, Cork and family at Cork Airport checking-in for boarding the inaugural SunExpress service to İzmir. Passenger numbers were up 17% at Cork Airport last month, carrying more than 330,000 passengers in May. Picture: Alison Miles /OSM PHOTO

Passenger numbers were up 17% at Cork Airport last month, carrying more than 330,000 passengers in May, while Dublin Airport numbers were up 4.2% to 3,257,700 in the month.

May 2024 was the busiest ever at Cork Airport. “With the peak holiday season now in full flow, the whole team at Cork Airport are well prepared for a very busy summer - quite possibly the busiest summer ever,” said chief executive of airport operator DAA, Kenny Jacobs.

Last month, an investment plan of €200m was announced for the southern gateway. The airport also saw a new service operated by SunExpress begin flying to Izmir in Turkey, the ninth airline flying out of Cork.

Meanwhile, Dublin Airport carried more than 100,000 passengers on 27 days of the month, including three days with more than 120,000 passengers - a first for any May in the airport’s 85-year history. Dublin launched new routes in May including WestJet’s non-stop service to St John’s in Newfoundland and direct Aer Lingus services to Nashville and Indianapolis. 

"We would be adding even more high-demand new routes if it wasn’t for the uncertainty of the passenger cap, which is still making airlines cautious about bringing increased frequencies and new direct routes to locations like India, Brazil and Singapore. That will remain the case until the cap is fully removed,” said Mr Jacobs.