• Another year of double-digit growth at Ireland’s fastest growing airport with passeger traffic up 10% on 2023.
• Several new route additions contribute to the busiest year for international passenger traffic in the airport’s 63-year history.
• Passengers continued to enjoy a pleasant airport experience, with 95% of passengers through security in 15 minutes or less.
• Cork Airport contributes over €1 billion to the Irish economy and supports over 12,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.
• This year, Cork Airport will offer direct services to 14 countries with 56 routes, operated by 9 scheduled airlines.

Cork Airport — January 14, 2025 — Cork Airport is celebrating one of the best years in its 63-year history as a total of 3.1 million passengers flew to and from the airport last year. 2024 marked another successful year of double-digit growth with passenger traffic up 10% on the previous year. As the airport welcomed it’s three millionth passenger shortly before Christmas, Cork Airport closed out the year 2024 as Ireland’s fastest growing airport.

2024 got off to a flying start with passenger traffic during the months of January, February, and March up 14%, 23% and 25% respectively. The start of the summer schedule brought the addition of new routes to Brussels Charleroi, Rhodes, and Zadar, while a new service to Glasgow commenced as part of the current winter schedule. These new services, along with increased frequencies and capacity on existing services to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt, all contributed to a bumper year for Ireland’s Gateway to the South.

Some of the best performing routes throughout 2024 included Paris Beauvais, Valencia, Barcelona, Faro, Rhodes, London Gatwick, Malaga, Lanzarote, Palma, and Reus while there were significantly higher amounts of passengers traveling to and from some of Cork Airport’s key European markets. Passenger traffic to and from Poland increased by 33%; traffic to and from Spain increased by 20%; traffic to and from France increased by 19% and traffic to and from Germany increased by 12%. 

Cork Airport’s famously fast and friendly airport experience was enjoyed by millions of passengers throughout the year as 95% cleared security screening in 15 minutes or less. Independently conducted market research showed that passengers using Cork Airport throughout last year scored the airport experience very highly, with an overall satisfaction rating of 94%. 

More improvements to the overall passenger experience became a key feature of 2024, with a new airside café/wine bar “Roasted Notes” opening to the public in July. Additional seating, more charging points, the introduction of reverse vending machines as part of the Deposit Return Scheme, landscaping improvements and a new suite of electric vehicle charging points all enhanced the positive passenger experience at Cork Airport.

In celebrating a momentous year for Cork Airport, Managing Director, Niall MacCarthy said: “2024 was an excellent year for Cork Airport with new routes and new airlines making our airport the fastest growing airport in Ireland and with the highest customer service standards. In 2025, we’re embarking on a number of capital projects to grow and improve the airport infrastructure and cater for the planned growth we have in the year ahead and the years following. We want to thank our loyal customer base, both in the South of Ireland, the UK and continental Europe for the continuing and growing use of Cork Airport.”

Building on the successes of 2024, Cork Airport will continue to grow throughout 2025 as the airport will offer direct services to 14 countries with 56 routes, operated by 9 scheduled airlines