According to a new study by economic consultants InterVISTAS, Dublin Airport contributes €9.8 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the Irish economy, which is equivalent to over 3% of the national economy, and supports or facilitates 129,700 jobs in the Republic of Ireland.
The study also revealed that a 57% growth in Dublin Airport's passenger numbers between 2013 and 2018 supported and facilitated an additional 12,400 jobs during that period.
The InterVISTAS study measured the overall economic impact of Dublin Airport and considered areas such as employment levels, the wages of the people employed in airport-related activities, and the indirect benefits that flow into the wider Irish economy.
"Ireland's Main Gateway To The World"
In a statement on Dublin Airport's website, the airport's managing director, Vincent Harrison, said, "Dublin Airport plays a vital role in the Irish economy as it is Ireland's main gateway to the world. The connectivity that it provides underpins Irish tourism and trade, and also helps enable continued investments in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Irish economy. One of the airport's key goals is to grow route choice and frequency for the benefit of the Irish economy."
Additionally, the InterVISTAS study revealed that Dublin Airport's connectivity increased by 59% during the five years to the end of 2018, which made it the second-fastest growing major airport in Europe in terms of connectivity during the period after Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
In 2018, Dublin Airport played host to 31.5 million passengers and ran services to more than 190 destinations in 42 countries.
Harrison stated, "Connectivity is hugely important for Ireland, as it is one of the world's most open economies. Exports, foreign direct investment and tourism all play a major role in the Irish economy, and research has shown that the value of exports with well-connected countries is typically five to six times more than that between countries that are poorly connected."
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
