Record passenger growth
Ireland West Airport is Ireland’s fourth-largest airport and the main international gateway for the West and Northwest of Ireland. When it comes to facts and figures, the airport will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its official opening in May 2026. 2024 was the busiest year in the airport’s history, with 834,000 passengers using the airport, surpassing the previous record of 818,000 passengers set in 2023. These facts and figures highlight the airport’s growing significance in the region.
Aviation statistics
- 834,000 passengers in 2024 – busiest ever year
- 35% passenger growth in the last ten years
- Record passenger growth on European services
- Extensive UK connectivity, including a daily London Heathrow service
- New route from Groningen launched in 2025
- 22 International destinations
- Served by major European airlines – Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Lauda
Operations
- Airport operating hours as per NOTAM
- 364 days a year (Closed Christmas Day)
- IATA Code: NOC ICAO Code: EIKN
- Number of runways: 1
- Runway Length: r/w 08/26: 2340 meters
- Runway Lighting System: Category II
- Map reference – Latitude – 53 54 North, Longitude – 08 49 West
- Elevation – 665 feet above sea level
- Terminal opened: 1986
Top 5 destinations
Over 380,000 passengers travel between London and Ireland West Airport every year, using our daily service with Aer Lingus to London Heathrow and our daily services to Luton and Stansted with Ryanair. This is another example of impressive facts and figures about the airport’s daily operations.
- London
- Liverpool
- Birmingham
- Manchester
- East Midlands
Economic contribution
- Almost 200 Staff are employed at Ireland West Airport, supporting a further 900 jobs in the region
- 300,000 overseas visitors to the region annually
- 900,000 bed nights supported, contributing a regional economic spend of over €182m annually*
- Over 200 local suppliers are supported by the airport through our operational and commercial outputs
- €1.2m employee tax and PRSI paid directly to the exchequer annually
- €17m annual contribution to GVA*
*Ernst & Young Economic Study 2024
