Dublin Airport Sets New August Passenger Record
More than 3.4 million passengers used Dublin Airport in August, a 6% increase over last year, making it the busiest August ever in the airport’s 79-year history. Just over 100,000 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport every day in August except on 31st August when passenger numbers were just under 100,000.
Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe increased by 8% with almost 1.9 million passengers travelling to and from European destinations during the month. Almost 935,000 passengers travelled to and from UK destinations in August, a 1% increase when compared to 2018.
Transatlantic traffic to and from North America increased by 5% with more than 490,000 passengers travelling on this route sector last month. Traffic to and from other international destinations, which includes flights to the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region, increased by 7%, as almost 118,000 passengers travelled on these routes during August.
Passenger numbers on domestic routes increased by 2% with more than 12,000 travelling on domestic flights last month.
The number of passengers using Dublin Airport as a hub to connect to another destination is up 7% in the eight months of the year, with almost 1.3 million passengers connecting through Dublin Airport during that time. So far this year, more than 22.4 million passengers have travelled through Dublin Airport, a 6% increase compared to the same period last year.
It’s not all rosy at Dublin Airport. Norwegian have announced it will suspend their Dublin-Copenhagen service for the winter as part of a major series of cutbacks on short-haul routes. This news comes following the recent suspension by Cathay Pacific of their Hong Kong service and Hainan Airlines cancellation of their Beijing and Shenzhen routes.
Come back of Duty Free?
The Minister for Finance has announced that duty-free shopping for people travelling from Ireland to UK ports and airports would return in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Paschal Donohoe was responding to a statement from the British government that it intends to reintroduce duty-free shopping for passengers travelling to EU countries if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31st October.
CSO Travel and Tourism Figures for Q2
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) have released the Travel and Tourism figures for Q2 2019.
Overseas trips to Ireland:
- The number of overseas trips to Ireland by non-residents increased from 2.952 million in Quarter 2 2018 to 3.022 million trips in Quarter 2 2019 (+2.4%).
- The number of nights spent in Ireland by overseas travellers increased by 5.8% in Quarter 2 2019 compared with the same period of the previous year, up from 18.7 million to 19.8 million.
- The average duration of overseas trips to Ireland increased from 6.3 nights in Quarter 2 2018 to 6.5 nights in Quarter 2 2019.
- Total tourism and travel earnings from overseas travellers to Ireland increased by 2.1% between Quarter 2 2018 and Quarter 2 2019, increasing from €1,970 million to €2,012 million. When fares are excluded, total expenditure increased from €1,475 million to €1,513 million, an increase of 2.6% over the period.
Trips by Irish residents overseas:
- In Quarter 2 2019, the number of trips made by Irish residents overseas increased by 6.9%, from 2.248 million trips in Quarter 2 2018 to 2.404 million.
- The average duration of overseas trips made by Irish residents increased from 6.7 nights in Quarter 2 2018 to 6.8 nights in Quarter 2 2019.
- Total tourism and travel expenditure by Irish residents overseas increased by 17.5%, up from €1,438 million in Quarter 2 2018 to €1,689 million in Quarter 2 2019. When all fares are included, total expenditure on overseas trips increased by 13.9%, from €1,831 million to €2,085 million.
About the Author
Mark Dwyer Mark is an airline pilot flying the Boeing 737 for a major European airline. In addition he is also a Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner and Base Training Captain on the B737. Outside of commercial flying Mark enjoys flying light aircraft from the smallest 3 Axis microlights up to heavier singles. He is also an instructor and EASA Examiner on single engines and a UK CAA Examiner. He flies the Chipmunk for the Irish Historic Flight Foundation (IHFF). Mark became the Chairman of the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI) in 2013 and has overseen a massive growth in the organisation. In this role he has worked at local and national levels. In 2015, Mark won ‘Upcoming Aviation Professional Award’ at the Aviation Industry Awards sponsored by the IAA. Mark launched this website back in 2002 while always managing the website, he has also been Editor and Deputy Editor of FlyingInIreland Magazine from 2005 to 2015.
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