Ireland West Airport announced 2023 has proven to be the busiest year on record with passenger numbers increasing by 13% to 818,000 for the first time in the airport’s history, surpassing the previous record of 807,000 passengers achieved in 2019.
The airport now serves 21 International destinations and is served by three of Europe’s major International airlines, Aer Lingus, Lauda Europe, and Ryanair. In total over 6,000 flights departed and arrived at the airport in 2023 with less than 10 flights impacted as a result of adverse weather at the airport, the lowest figure on record at the airport.
Passenger numbers traveling on services to and from the UK totalled 665,000 boosted by the commencement of a new daily service to London Heathrow with Aer Lingus.
The number of passengers traveling on services to Mainland and Continental Europe hit a new high for the airport, with 148,000 passengers traveling to and from Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Majorca, Malaga, Milan, Cologne, Lanzarote and Tenerife which represented a 7% increase on 2022 figures.
Ryanair recorded its busiest-ever year for passenger numbers at the airport carrying over 730,000 passengers, a 3% increase on 2022 with record numbers using their services to and from Liverpool, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Manchester in the UK.
The Airport Transformation Programme, with a number of infrastructural projects completed during the course of 2023, new state of the art Visitor Discovery Centre. the installation of a new next-generation cabin baggage screening system, new and enhanced food and beverage offering opening upstairs in Slainte restaurant area for avgeeks and visitors alike and completion of resurfacing works at the airport car park and marking of new dedicated passenger walkways.
Ireland West Airport Chairman Arthur French said “We are delighted to have seen such a strong recovery in passenger travel in 2023, which has resulted in a record year for the airport, which is great news for tourism and job creation, both at the airport and in the wider economy. We launched new services to both Lanzarote and Tenerife with Ryanair, and for the first time launched a new daily service with Aer Lingus, to one of Europe’s major international airport hubs, London Heathrow. I would like to thank Minister Eamon Ryan TD, Minister of State Jack Chambers, TD, and Govt representatives for their continued support for the airport.
In addition, I wish to express our gratitude to our customers, airline and tour operator partners, stakeholders, tourism groups, and Local Authority partners for their ongoing support in helping us to continue to grow passenger numbers and develop international connectivity for the region. I would also like to say a special word of thanks to the staff at the airport for their hard work and continued focus on ensuring the customer and passenger experience through the airport is both a safe and welcoming one. We will continue to work with our stakeholders and airline partners over the next 12 months as we strive to further grow our suite of routes from the airport whilst continuing to invest in our airport transformation programme’.
Image Credit: Ireland West Airport
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 6 January 2024 All Rights Reserved
