About the Development Fee
A Development Fee of €10 is charged to all departing passengers from Ireland West Airport aged 12 or over. This is a service charge that the airport charges for the use of its facilities. It is also a contribution toward infrastructure development, including passenger and airline services, and the ongoing maintenance and operation of the airport. The services include terminal facilities, safety and security, airline services such as air traffic control, navigational aids, runway systems, aircraft parking, and fire services.
All airports charge for their services. Most airlines collect these fees and list them as taxes, fees and charges when you book and pay for your ticket. Our Development Fee is part of our overall service charges, and we choose to charge it openly and transparently.
Development Fee Information
Frequently Asked Questions about the Airport Development Fee
What is the Development Fee?
The Development Fee is a service charge that the airport applies to all departing passengers aged 12 or older for the use of its facilities. All airports charge for their services. Most airlines include these fees in the taxes, fees and charges you pay when you book your ticket. Our Development Fee forms part of our overall service charges. We choose to charge this fee openly and transparently.
Why do I have to pay it?
The income we receive from airlines is insufficient to cover the substantial ongoing investment required to provide services. These services must meet airline and international regulatory standards. Passenger numbers have increased significantly over the last number of years. We expect passenger numbers to rise to over one million a year by 2030. To meet the increasing demand for flights to and from the region, Ireland West Airport must develop services, facilities and infrastructure. This is necessary to meet its customers’ needs. To meet these rising costs and secure the airport’s future, it is necessary to have the Airport Development Fee in place.
How do I pay the fee?
The Development Fee payment point is located before entry to the security screening point. You can pay the fee by cash, debit, or credit card before proceeding to the departure lounge.
What is the Development Fee income used for?
The Development Fee has provided critical funding for completing significant infrastructure and terminal enhancement projects. It has provided a critical funding support towards the completion of major safety, security, infrastructural and terminal enhancement projects. Between 2015 and 2025, €47m has been invested in upgrading and enhancing the airport’s facilities. The Airport must match most grant aid provided by the Government from its own resources. As a non-state airport, Ireland West Airport reinvests its available resources in the continued development of the airport. This benefits the region and its customers. During the period 2025-2028, the completion of several significant safety and security-related projects is forecasted to cost approximately €38m. The Airport Development Fee will provide critical funding support. This will facilitate the completion of these projects, ensuring the airport continues to comply with international aviation safety and security regulations.
Why do the airlines not include this fee in the airline fare?
All airlines, tour operators, and travel agents have been notified of our development fee. They have been requested to inform passengers of it before booking travel out of our airport. We have asked all our partners to publish it in all their relevant communications, including on their websites. However, the decision to publish the fee is at the discretion of the airline and or tour operator. If you were unaware of our service charge at the time of booking, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the airline or travel provider with whom you booked your ticket to discuss this matter. Otherwise, you can provide feedback to the Airport in writing (subject heading ‘Development Fee’) at Ireland West Airport, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, or by emailing [email protected]
Does Government Grant Aid support not cover this funding gap?
Unfortunately not. The airport must match Government Grant Aid with its own resources. The Development Fee is crucial in bridging this gap. As we are not a state-owned airport, we do not receive the same level of Government funding as other airports. If we did not charge this Development Fee, we would be unable to provide adequate passenger services or implement the necessary infrastructure. We need these funds to support our growth and development plans. The airport is held in trust for the people of the West and Northwest of Ireland. It was set up specifically to benefit residents of the region. We reinvest all Development Fee contributions back into the airport for this purpose.
Do I pay more at Ireland West Airport than other airports?
The airport regularly benchmarks our fees and charges against those of competing airports. Ireland West Airport’s fees and charges, inclusive of our €10 Development Fee, are very competitive. This holds true both against Irish and UK airports.
Supported projects
The Development Fee has been a vital contributor to the successful completion and ongoing development of several major infrastructure projects at the airport. This has occurred over the past few years. Without it, the airport would not be in a position to offer the level of service currently in place, catering to over 900,000 passengers annually.
The completion of past projects and planned future projects will ensure the airport complies with International safety and security regulations. It also continues to improve its facilities and the customer experience for our passengers. As a non-state airport, Ireland West Airport reinvests its available resources in the continued development of the airport. This benefits the region and its customers.