Dublin Airport’s governing authority, daa, has announced that the airport is set to surpass its annual passenger cap of 32 million this year, following a record-breaking month in August.
August 2024 saw an unprecedented 3.46 million passengers travel through Dublin Airport, marking the busiest month in its 84-year history. Notably, the week of August 12 experienced 829,000 passengers, and August 18 became the airport’s busiest day ever with 124,600 passengers.
From May through August, Dublin Airport processed over 10 million passengers, bringing the total for 2024 to 22.7 million. This figure represents a 5.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The trend is expected to persist into September.
Despite the current high passenger numbers, daa anticipates a slowdown starting in late autumn due to the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) winter slot decision. This decision will limit the number of seats airlines can offer between November and March, potentially reducing passenger traffic.
In response to the cap, some airlines have scaled back their operations at Dublin Airport due to the uncertainty surrounding the 32 million passenger limit. daa has also taken steps to manage passenger numbers, including removing airline incentives and encouraging airlines to shift capacity to Cork Airport.
Cork Airport reported a record 340,705 passengers in August, a 10% increase from the previous year. According to recent CSO statistics, Cork Airport is the fastest-growing of Ireland’s three state airports, with an 11% growth rate for the first seven months of 2024.
daa CEO Kenny Jacobs expressed optimism for the future but criticized the outdated passenger cap and slow planning processes, which he believes are hindering Dublin Airport’s growth. He highlighted the need for cohesive planning and infrastructure development to support Ireland’s connectivity and economic growth.
The daa has submitted an application to Fingal County Council to increase the terminal passenger cap from 32 million to 40 million, as part of a broader Infrastructure Application (IA). This proposal includes plans for significant sustainable investments to accommodate future growth.
Jacobs acknowledged that efforts to reduce airline demand have lowered passenger numbers by approximately 650,000. However, he projects that passenger numbers will exceed 32 million and could approach 33 million by the end of 2024.
He emphasized the importance of supporting growth at Dublin Airport to maintain Ireland’s global connectivity and foster tourism and foreign direct investment. Jacobs also called for unified support for the development of Ireland’s regional airports, including Cork, Shannon, Knock, Kerry, and Donegal.
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