More than 900,000 passengers passed through Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports last month, a sharp rise on the same period last year, according to Aer Rianta.

Not surprisingly, the majority of passengers, almost 750,000, passed through Dublin Airport, a rise of 17 per cent on last year's figures. There was also a 43 per cent increase in transatlantic traffic, to 41,824 passengers. "Strong transatlantic and UK market growth were also a feature at Shannon Airport during January, as the airport handled 73,617 passengers, a 21 per cent increase over the same month last year," Aer Rianta said. Cork Airport handled 81,738 passengers, an 18 per cent increase over January 1998.