Cork Airport Celebrates Record-Breaking Year with 3.46 Million Passengers

Cork Airport has marked its busiest year in history, welcoming 3.46 million passengers in 2025, a 13% increase on the previous year and the third consecutive year of double-digit growth for the busiest airport in the South of Ireland.

The milestone represents the highest passenger numbers since the airport opened in 1961. Passenger traffic has surged 67% over the past decade, driven by strong demand across key international routes and enhanced connectivity to major European hubs.

Routes to UK cities saw particularly impressive growth, with Bristol traffic up 37%, Liverpool up 31%, and Manchester climbing 27%. European destinations also performed strongly, with German routes recording a 61% increase, Belgium up 29%, and Switzerland growing by 27%. Leisure travel remained robust, with Spanish routes increasing 32% and Portuguese connections up 20%.

The airport's 2025 success was bolstered by new services to Bilbao, Bordeaux, Izmir, Prague, and Geneva. For 2026, passengers can look forward to additional routes including Nice, Santiago de Compostela, and Antalya as part of the summer schedule.

Hub connectivity continues to strengthen, with airlines including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, and SWISS increasing frequencies. Next summer will see 60% more seats available to Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, and Zurich, providing enhanced connections to worldwide destinations.

The airport's excellence was recognised internationally when it secured the title of Europe's Best Airport (under 5 million passengers) from Airports Council International Europe for the third time in a decade. The award acknowledged Cork's customer service, efficient operations, sustainability initiatives, and tourism partnerships.

Infrastructure development features prominently in 2026 plans, with a €200 million capital investment programme progressing on schedule. Construction of a new mezzanine floor and passenger security screening area is expected to complete in December 2026, delivering a brighter, more spacious facility with fast-track lanes. The year will also see work commence on 700 additional long-term parking spaces and Ireland's largest solar carport installation over the Holiday Blue car park, designed to generate up to 20% of the airport's electricity needs.

Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport, said:

"The team at Cork Airport is delighted with the growth and success delivered in 2025. Our industry representative body recognised Cork Airport as Europe's best regional airport and passengers who used us for the first time complimented us on the ease and friendliness of the airport experience. In 2026, with the support of daa Group, we will be expanding our facilities and delivering on our capital development programme while delivering the same exceptional service our passengers love, and we look forward to another tremendous year in Cork Airport's history."

The airport now operates over 50 routes to UK and continental European destinations, serving as the best-connected international airport serving the South of Ireland.