Cork Airport enjoyed the busiest year in its 62-year history for international passenger traffic, with 2.8 million passengers travelling through in 2023 – which represented a +25% increase on 2022 levels (2.24 million).

Ireland’s two busiest airports – Dublin Airport and Cork Airport – welcomed almost 35 million passengers in 2023, according to new figures released today by daa, the operator of both airports.

Cork Airport

Cork Airport enjoyed an extremely busy year, with over 2.8 million passengers travelling to and from Munster’s busiest airport in 2023. This marked the busiest year for international passenger traffic in Cork Airport’s 62-year history.

daa CEO Kenny Jacobs said: “Cork Airport is the fastest growing airport in Ireland and Cork’s strategic location is proving very attractive from a traffic development point of view. The addition of five new summer routes and four winter routes contributed to Cork Airport’s strong growth, and the addition of these new routes was in direct response to the demand that exists in Munster and south Leinster for new and exciting destinations.”

Cork Airport’s strong performing European hub routes, London Heathrow (Aer Lingus), Amsterdam (Aer Lingus, KLM) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (Air France), were some of the main drivers of growth in 2023.

Significant investments were made by daa in key capital infrastructure projects at Ireland’s second busiest airport during the year. In November, a new €6.2 million electrical substation, constructed with financial support from the Department of Transport, was opened which future proofs the electrical infrastructure at Cork Airport for generations to come. 

“I want to thank the team at Cork Airport for delivering a record-breaking year in 2023. With further growth anticipated in 2024, Cork Airport will continue to offer a “best-in-class” service to passengers, with more new and exciting destinations in the pipeline, “ added Kenny Jacobs.

December 2023

Cork Airport enjoyed a busy end to the year, with a total of 196,800 passengers flying to and from the state’s second busiest airport. This marked a 20% increase on passenger traffic in December 2022. Passengers flying from Cork Airport enjoyed a swift, efficient security screening experience, where 99% cleared security in 20 minutes or less.