Cork Airport Sets New Record and Claims European Crown as Dublin Faces Passenger Cap Crisis

Cork Airport has achieved a remarkable double victory, recording its busiest June in 63 years whilst claiming the prestigious "Best Regional Airport in Europe" award for the third time. The milestone comes as Dublin Airport also smashed records but faces mounting pressure over passenger capacity limits that threaten Ireland's connectivity.

Cork Airport welcomed 355,000 passengers last month, representing a significant 15% increase compared to June 2024. The achievement makes it Ireland's fastest-growing airport and earned recognition from Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, building on previous wins in 2019 and 2017.

Dublin Airport also recorded its busiest June with 3.54 million passengers, up 5.8% on the previous year. The capital's airport experienced 12 days with over 120,000 passengers compared to none in June 2024, with its busiest day ever recorded on Sunday 29th June when 129,000 travellers passed through the terminals.

The final week of June proved exceptional for both airports, with Cork handling 85,000 passengers (up 17%) and Dublin processing 858,000 (up 8%), marking the busiest week in both airports' histories.

However, Dublin's success is overshadowed by an ongoing passenger cap dispute. The airport is projected to exceed 36 million passengers this year, significantly above the 32 million annual limit imposed by local planning authorities. An enforcement notice was issued last month, creating uncertainty among airlines and tourism operators.

Kenny Jacobs, daa CEO:

"As a Cork native, I already knew Cork Airport was the best run regional airport in Europe, but it was great to see this acknowledged by the European airport industry. Well done to all the team at Cork who have made their county, province and the whole country proud by winning this superb accolade."

The Cork CEO highlighted recent route additions, including Air France's year-round service to Paris Charles de Gaulle and the resumption of popular summer destinations to La Rochelle, Zadar and Carcassonne. SunExpress also announced a new service to Antalya for summer 2026.

Regarding Dublin's predicament, Jacobs noted that achieving the 32 million passenger limit would require turning away four million passengers annually, equivalent to 3,000 fewer aviation jobs. The government has confirmed support for lifting the cap, with stakeholders urging swift resolution before the Dáil summer break on 17th July.

The passenger surge demonstrates Ireland's aviation recovery, with Cork handling 1.65 million passengers in the first half of 2025 (up 14.5%) and Dublin processing 16.96 million (up 2.7%).