Cork Airport passenger numbers up 10% as cap hinders growth in Dublin

Cork Airport welcomed just shy of a quarter of a million passengers last month in March

Cork’s high numbers were achieved despite Easter not falling in March as it did last year, which the DAA said demonstrates the 'strong momentum' of Ireland’s fastest growing airport. 

Cork Airport welcomed a total of 249,000 passengers in March, a 10% increase compared to the same month last year, new figures from the DAA reveal. 

In stark contrast, passengers through Dublin Airport’s terminal doors dropped to 2.54m, a decline of 3% compared to March last year.

Cork’s high numbers were achieved despite Easter not falling in March as it did last year, which the DAA said demonstrates the 'strong momentum' of Ireland’s fastest growing airport. 

While Dublin’s passenger numbers would have been higher in March had Easter fallen then, they would still have been stagnant versus last year due to the impact of the Dublin Airport cap, it also noted. 

This is the fourth month in a row that passenger numbers at Dublin Airport are down or flat versus the same month last year, despite strong demand from both passengers and airlines to fly in and out of Dublin. This is reflected in the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures showing tourism numbers declining in February versus the same month last year.

The closure of Heathrow Airport on Friday, March 21 also impacted numbers at both airports as 42 flights were cancelled. 

The Cork/Heathrow route has eight flights a day and 1,500 passengers. Meanwhile, the Dublin/Heathrow route is the second busiest air route in Europe, with 34 flights a day and 6,000 passengers. 

Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, the operator of Cork and Dublin airports said: “Cork Airport is really flying, welcoming just shy of a quarter of a million passengers last month. With a bumper St Patrick’s weekend, lots of Six Nations charters and additional services to Birmingham for the Cheltenham Racing Festival, Cork continues to grow at lightning pace. 

"Air France resumed its popular Cork to Paris Charles de Gaulle service early in March and Lufthansa resumed its service to Frankfurt last week, which significantly improves European hub connectivity available from Cork. It’s great to see four new routes added this summer – Bilbao, Bordeaux, Corfu and Izmir – with the first of these to Bilbao starting on April 16. 

"Cork is experiencing significant growth and success in the first quarter of 2025.” 

However, Mr Jacobs added: "While Cork surges, Dublin stagnates. For four months in a row Dublin Airport had the same or less passengers than the same month last year in stark contrast to other European airports. 

"Our national tourism policy has a stated aim of 5.6% annual revenue growth from overseas visitors each year out to 2030. This is unachievable while the cap remains.” 

In early February, the DAA resubmitted its ‘no build’ Operational Application (OA) to Fingal County Council to increase passenger numbers at Dublin Airport to 36m a year to provide a short-term solution to the terminals cap impasse impacting Ireland’s connectivity, tourism and economy. 

On April 1, it received a request for further information from the council which it said it is reviewing to understand the scope and relevance of the information requested and its implications.