The number of passengers that passed through Irish airports increased year on year last year, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Details
According to a statement published on CSO.ie, more than 23 million more passengers used Irish airports in last year compared than 2021, but 5.5 million less than in pre-COVID-19 pandemic 2019.
Passenger numbers in the fourth quarter of last year increased close to twofold year on year, but were 4% less than the figures recorded for the same quarter in 2019.
The number of flights to and from Irish airports was two and half times higher than 2021 figures, but was 14% lower compared to the numbers recorded for 2019.
More than 236,000 flights were handled by Ireland's five main airports last year, with Dublin handling 84% of all flights (199,464), and Cork handling 7% of all flights (16,592).
London-Heathrow, London-Gatwick and Amsterdam-Schiphol were the most popular routes for passengers travelling through Dublin Airport last year, while the most popular route for Cork and Shannon airports was London-Heathrow, the most popular route for Ireland West Airport Knock airport was London-Stansted, and the most popular route for Kerry Airport was London-Luton.
Additionally, air freight handled by Irish airports decreased 1% year on year last year, according to the CSO's data.
Statement By Statistician In The Agriculture, Transport & Tourism Division
The statement published on CSO.ie quoted statistician in the agriculture, transport & tourism division Dr Nele van der Wielen as saying, "The figures show an increase in international travel during 2022. However, data shows that passengers travelling to and from Ireland were still down by 15% compared with 2019.
"Almost 11.8 million more passengers travelled to Ireland in 2022 when compared with 2021, but this was 2.7 million fewer passengers when compared with the same period in 2019.
"In 2022, 16.2 million passengers departed from Ireland, which was 11.6 million more than the same period in 2021, but still fewer by 2.8 million when compared with 2019.
"In Q4 2022, 8.2 million passengers passed through Irish airports, which was 3.7 million more passengers when compared with the same period in 2021 but 0.3 million fewer than the same period in 2019."
The statement also quoted Dr Nele van der Wielen as saying, "More than 236,000 flights were handled by Ireland's five main airports in 2022, with Dublin handling 84% of all flights (199,464), while Cork accounted for 7% of all flights (16,592). The number of flights in 2022 was 2 and half times those of 2021 but still 14% lower than 2019.
"London-Heathrow, London-Gatwick and Amsterdam-Schiphol were the most popular routes for passengers travelling through Dublin airport in 2022. The top route for Cork and Shannon airports was London-Heathrow, for Knock airport it was London-Stansted, and for Kerry airport it was London-Luton."
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