Airport operator daa has reiterated Dublin Airport is on course to breach its 32 million passenger limit this year, after monthly passenger volumes hit fresh highs in September.
Latest daa operational figures show both Cork and Dublin airports saw record-breaking numbers of passengers passing through their terminals again in September.
The two airports welcomed a total of 3.38 million passengers in September, a 5% increase on the same month last year.
Demand for travel was buoyed by late summer breaks, the post-summer resumption of business travel, and strong flows of tourists into Ireland for big sporting events such as the Ireland versus England football international in Dublin.
Had daa not made every effort to dampen airline demand in Dublin Airport, passenger numbers would have been higher still, the operator said.
Last month, daa confirmed that its extensive actions to comply with the 32 million terminals passenger cap have reduced passenger numbers across the year by approximately 650,000, despite daa not controlling the slot process. However, daa also warned that, based on forecasts, passenger numbers will exceed 32 million and will be closer to 33 million in 2024.
The latest figures show that 3.08 million passengers went through the terminal doors of Dublin Airport, up 4% on the same month last year, making it the busiest September ever in Dublin Airport’s 84-year history. The busiest day of the month was Sunday, September 1, when 119,570 passengers went through the airport’s two terminals, and passenger numbers exceeded 100,000 on a further 23 days in the month.
So far this year, a total of 25.8 million passengers have passed through the doors of Dublin Airport – an increase of 5.3% on the same period in 2023. With every passing month, Dublin Airport’s passenger numbers get closer to the 32 million cap.
October is set to be another busy month but the outlook for autumn is more subdued, because some airlines operating at Dublin have decided to reduce the scale of their operations because of the uncertainty with the 32 million cap.
The Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) winter slot decision, which will cut the number of seats that airlines flying in and out of Dublin Airport can offer to passengers in the November to March winter period, will also begin to bite. However, it remains daa’s expectation that the 32 million cap will be exceeded in 2024.
Cork Airport’s strong 2024 continued in September as it welcomed a record 295,000 passengers, which represented a 14% increase compared with September 2023. The strong performance means Cork Airport remains on track to break through the three million passenger level before the end of the year.
Commenting, daa CEO Kenny Jacobs said: “September was another busy month at Cork and Dublin airports, with record numbers flying through both. I want to thank all of our teams at the airports for their hard work, as well as our airline customers.
“But while Cork grows, Dublin slows. daa has long been vocal about the potential negative impacts of the cap. Regrettably, our predictions are becoming a reality. Ryanair is cutting routes, Aer Lingus is warning of job losses, while Emerald is likely reducing its fleet and may cut its Dublin to Donegal route, all of which leads to economic harm and reduced connectivity for Ireland.
“Things are going to get worse before they get better. The coming months will see the passenger cap starting to bite more firmly as airlines finalise their summer 2025 schedules with fewer slots available and reduced capacity, despite overwhelming demand from passengers to fly in and out of Dublin Airport. Meanwhile airports across Europe are working hard to get and keep the flights Dublin is losing. And daa is obliged to continue to do its utmost to comply with the cap, despite not controlling the slot process.
“At the same time, we are working hard to support our application to increase our passenger number to 40 million to pass through the planning system. We are currently responding to Fingal County Council’s request for further information on a range of topics and intend to submit our response before November 15. However, the complexities and additional considerations prompted by the recent draft decision by An Bord Pleanála on nighttime flights and hours of operation at Dublin Airport complicate this.
“We’re currently working through the detail of the ABP draft decision to understand the full implications and repeat our call for more joined-up thinking in both the planning system and strategic infrastructure development. We’re an island nation with a fast-growing population, so Government policies and a nimble planning system that allows all our airports to grow is vital, be that Dublin or Donegal, Cork or Shannon.”
