175,000 travellers passed through Ireland West Airport Knock in 2021.
Details
Ireland West Airport Knock stated on its website that 2021 was the second consecutive year during which the number of travellers that passed through the airport was less than 200,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following passenger numbers of 143,000 in 2020.
Additionally, the number of travellers that passed through the airport last year decreased by 79% when compared to pre-pandemic 2019, when a record 807,000 travellers passed through the airport.
142,000 people travelled to and from the UK via Ireland West Airport Knock last year, which compares to a record 671,000 in 2019, while 31,000 people travelled to European destinations via the airport, which compares to 134,000 in 2019.
Airport Transformation Programme
Ireland West Airport Knock stated that investment continued in the Airport Transformation Programme in 2021, with a number projects commencing last year including critical airport runway end safety upgrade works, the design and construction of a new arrivals hall passenger exit facility, a major upgrade of the airports electrical infrastructure, a feasibility study for the design and construction of a new fire training ground and facility at the airport, a feasibility study for the expansion of the aircraft parking area (apron), and a Sustainability Master Plan to support the airport’s sustainability and environmental strategy.
Other Positive Developments
Other positive developments for Ireland West Airport Knock last year included the commencement of Ryanair services to Edinburgh and Manchester in September, the announcement in December of a Ryanair service to Birmingham that is scheduled to commence in March of this year, and the return of Aer Lingus to the airport in December following an over 20 month absence.
Ireland West Airport Knock Chairman Statement
In a statement published on Ireland West Airport Knock's website, the airport's chairman, Arthur French, said, "The continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airports business is evident as we experienced another year of very low passenger numbers in 2020, with numbers declining to levels last seen in the 1990's. As we look ahead to 2022 the year ahead will present many challenges due to the pandemic but we can look forward with optimism following the recent positive route announcements by Ryanair and also the return to the airport of Aer Lingus. Furthermore, we welcome the very positive news by Government of new travel rules, which remove the requirement for vaccinated passengers to produce a negative COVID-19 test on arrival into Ireland, which will provide confidence and reassurance for people looking to book short breaks and holidays in 2022. We remain confident that with the support of our loyal customer base, Local Authority partners, stakeholders and Government, the airport will hopefully enjoy a much stronger year this year."
© 2022 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
