Dublin Airport expects that new services will boost passenger numbers again this year following a strong performance in 2014. New figures show that 21.7 million people travelled through the airport last year, about 1.5 million, or 8 per cent, more than in 2013.
They also show that it was a record year for transatlantic flights, with growth on these routes hitting 14 per cent, about 260,000 extra people, to reach 2.1 million.
The airport's managing director, Vincent Harrison, said new routes to San Francisco, Toronto and St John's Newfoundland helped to drive this growth.
Dublin Airport predicts that expansion will continue in 2015 as airlines plan to launch 14 new services in coming months. These include Aer Lingus flights to Washington, a United Airlines service to Chicago, Icelandic carrier Wow's service to Reykjavik and Spanish low-cost operator and IAG subsidiary Vueling, flying to Barcelona.
"We have six new continental European services for this year, three new transatlantic services, three new UK services and two new services to Africa, " Mr Harrison said
It is also hoping to strengthen its position as a transatlantic hub. In 2014, 750,000 passengers, mainly from Britain and continental Europe, used the airport to transfer to flights to North America.
“This summer, Dublin Airport will have 158 departures a week to North America, making it Europe’s sixth largest airport for transatlantic connectivity,” Mr Harrison added.
Last year’s growth was down to a combination of 24 new routes and additional flights on 34 existing services, which followed the Government’s decision to drop the €3 a passenger air travel tax.
Long-haul business was up 14 per cent. Along with the 2.1 million who flew between Dublin and North America, traffic to international destinations such as the Middle East and North Africa grew 19 per cent, to 643,000.
Passenger numbers to and from continental Europe was up 5 per cent, at 11.1 million, while traffic with Britain was up 8 per cent, at 7.8 million. Domestic traffic was up 7 per cent, at 72,000. Dublin Airport’s busiest year was 2008, when 23.5 million people used it.
Meanwhile, Dublin Airport Authority is not going ahead with a legal case against the Commission for Aviation Regulation over the valuation of land close to the airport that the company wants to develop as a commercial zone following what it said was "satisfactory" guidance from the regulator on the issue.
