Airport traveller numbers soar to hit 30m but Cork suffers decline for third year

The number of arrivals and departures through Irish airports soared to almost 30m last year, although Cork and Knock actually had a drop in passenger numbers.

Figures issued by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed a national increase of 12.5% over the previous year in passenger numbers using the airports, with the number of departing passengers marginally exceeding those arriving for the main airports in 2015.

Dublin airport accounted for 83.8% of all passengers last year, up almost 9% compared to figures for 2008 and up 15% compared to 2014.