2022 has proven to be a strong year of recovery at Ireland West Airport, with passenger numbers increasing by 314% to 722,000 compared to 174,000 passengers in 2021. Compared to pre-covid levels, passenger numbers recovered to 89% of the record 2019 level of 807,000 passengers.
The number of passengers traveling on services to and from Mainland and Continental Europe hit a new high for the airport, surpassing 2019 levels, increasing by 9% to 138,621, with a particularly strong performance recorded on services to and from Cologne, Barcelona and Milan which in turn generated significant economic benefits for the West, North West and Midlands regions through increased overseas visitors from these regions.
Passenger numbers travelling on services to and from the UK reached 578,000, boosted by the commencement of 3 new services to Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester with Ryanair and the return of the popular Aer Lingus service to London Gatwick. In addition, Ryanair recorded its busiest ever year for passenger numbers at Ireland West Airport, carrying a total of 654k passengers in 2022.
2022 was a milestone year for the airport, as along with Shannon Airport, both airports became the first airports in the world to be recognised as Age Friendly, as endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO ), in June and in October were crowned joint winners of the Age Friendly Transport Award at the prestigious National Age Friendly Transport Awards. The Age Friendly Transport Award recognises the vital difference that availability to good quality, easily accessible, user friendly and reliable transport options can make to an older person.
Furthermore 2022 saw continued investment in the Airport Transformation Program with several infrastructural projects commencing during the course of 2022, aimed at continuing to enhance the airports facility to meet the future needs of both our airline customers and passengers.
Projects which commenced in 2022 include:
Sustainability Master Plan to support the airports sustainability and environmental strategy
Major upgrade of the airport’s electrical infrastructure across the entire airport campus
Upgrade of the airport ground services fleet of vehicles to electric vehicles
Purchase of new Fire Tender Vehicle
Resurfacing and upgrading of the airport car parking facilities at Ireland West Airport.
Essential maintenance works in the upstairs Sláinte Restaurant area of the airport.
Commenting on the 2022 performance, Arthur French, Chairman, Ireland West Airport said the airport is delighted to report a much improved performance in 2022 following two extremely challenging years, recording a strong recovery, reaching passenger numbers of 722,000 in 2022.
