Dublin Airport flying high after record year for transatlantic traffic

Airports are not Katy Harrington's favourite places

Terminal 2, Dublin Airport

Airports are not Katy Harrington's favourite places

Terminal 2, Dublin Airport

Pól Ó Conghaile Twitter Email

January 12 2015 01:27 PM

21.7 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport in 2014, a rise of 8pc on the previous year, according to figures released today.

The country's largest airport saw growth across all major sectors of its business during 2014, it says, with further positive growth predicted for 2015.

Transatlantic traffic increased by 14pc, as more than 2.1 million people travelled on flights between Dublin and North America in 2014 - a record number for the airport.

This is the first year transatlantic passengers have surpassed two million.

The boom in transatlantic travel was boosted by new services to Toronto, San Francisco and St John’s in Newfoundland, among other services.

This summer, Dublin Airport will have 158 departures per week to North America, making it Europe’s sixth largest airport for transatlantic connectivity.

Short-haul traffic increased by 7pc over 2013 in Dublin, aided by new services from the likes of Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Flybe, BA and other airlines.

Annual passenger numbers for the past four years:

2014: 21.7 million
2013: 20.17 million
2012: 19.1 million
2011: 18.7 million
2010: 18.4 million

“Dublin Airport had a very strong year of passenger growth in 2014, adding more than 1.5 million extra passengers and outperforming the average airport growth rates across the European Union,” said Dublin Airport Managing Director, Vincent Harrison.

“The growth was due to a combination of 24 new routes last year and additional flights on 34 existing services,” Mr Harrison added.

Growth has been particularly strong in the British market, with an extra 600,000 people taking flights between Dublin and British destinations in 2014.

Transfer traffic also set a new record last year, with almost 750,000 passengers using Dublin Airport as a hub in 2014 - a 37pc increase on the previous year.

“We see significant potential for further expansion this area,” Mr Harrison added.

Passenger traffic to and from continental Europe, the biggest market segment at Dublin Airport, increased by 5pc in 2014 to 11.1 million.

Domestic passenger numbers increased by 7pc to 72,000.

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