Cork Airport serves 3.46 million passengers in busiest year ever breaking 15-year-old record

Overall passenger traffic was up 13% compared to 2024 marking the third consecutive year of double-digit growth at the airport. 

Cork Airport recorded its busiest year in its history during 2025 with 3.46 million passengers flying to and from the airport driven by a large increase in travellers from UK provincial cities as well as Germany.

Overall passenger traffic was up 13% compared to 2024 marking the third consecutive year of double-digit growth at the airport. In the decade since 2015, passenger traffic at Cork Airport has grown by 67%.

During the year, the airport has seen a significant increase in passengers travelling between Cork and key markets including the UK, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.

There was particularly strong traffic growth on routes between Cork and the UK provincial cities of Bristol, up 37%, Liverpool, up 31%, and Manchester, up 27%.

In European markets, passenger traffic to and from Germany was up 61% while passenger traffic to and from Belgium rose 29% and traffic to and from Switzerland grew by 27%.

Passenger traffic through the airport to and from Spain and Portugal was also up 32% and 20% respectively.

New routes

Cork Airport added several new routes during 2025 with Aer Lingus now flying from the airport to Bilbao, Bordeaux, Prague, and Geneva.

This year, the airline will add new services to Nice in France and Santiago de Compostela in Spain while SunExpress will add a service to Antalya in Turkey as part of the 2026 summer schedule.

Managing director of Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy, said the team is “delighted with the growth and success delivered in 2025” and in 2026 “we will be expanding our facilities and delivering on our capital development programme while delivering the same exceptional service our passengers love”.

Airport upgrade

Cork Airport is also undergoing significant development with €200m being allocated for projects in May last year.

Work on the construction of a new mezzanine floor and new passenger security screening area is progressing on time and on budget, with an expected completion date of December this year, they said.

“Once completed, passengers can look forward to a brighter, more expansive security screening area complete with a fast-track lane and an even better security experience,” Cork Airport said.

Work on the upgrade of a new oversized baggage facility and a newly redeveloped staff and goods screening area were completed at the end of the year.

“In 2026, works will commence on extending car parking with 700 new long-term spaces and the construction of Ireland’s largest solar ‘carport’ over the existing Holiday Blue long-term car park, which will generate up to 20% of the airport’s future electricity needs,” the airport said.