16 consecutive years of growth at Dublin Airport as passenger numbers surpass 23 million in 2007
January 22 2008
Official end of year figures released by the Dublin
Airport Authority, today 22nd January, show that more than 2.1 million
additional passengers travelled
through the airport
last year, representing a 10% increase over 2006. In all, over 23.2 million
passengers used Dublin Airport in 2007.
European traffic rose by 18% with almost 12 million passengers travelling in
2007. Growth on this route can be attributed to strong performance on the
Spanish, French, Italian, German and Polish routes. In addition, new route
developments within the Nordic market and Baltic States saw traffic grow
strongly in these regions.
Traffic to and from the UK grew by just under 1% to 8.6 million passengers in
2007, a reflection that the UK market is maturing.
There was also continued growth on the domestic market with over 900,000
passengers travelling in 2007, an increase of 5%.
Passenger volumes to other international destinations such as the Middle East
and the African continent grew by 17% to over 230,000 travelling last year. The
new Etihad service to Abu Dhabi, which quickly grew beyond its initial entry
frequency of three flights per week to six by year-end, was a significant
contributor to growth in this area.
A record number of 1.6 million passengers travelled on one or more of the 11
transatlantic routes served from Dublin Airport last year, up 11% over 2006. The
addition of Aer Lingus’ new routes to Washington, Orlando and San Francisco,
together with increased capacity from Delta Airlines, US Airways and American
Airlines, contributed strongly to this growth.
An additional 42 new routes or services were launched from Dublin Airport
last year. Of these 19 were new routes and 23 new services provided more
competition and choice for our customers on existing routes. Dublin Airport now
has a total of 89 airlines operating services to 200 airports in 35 countries
around the world and there is more to come. Plans are in place to launch12
new routes/services in the first six months of 2008.
Commenting on last year’s performance, Director of Dublin Airport, Robert
Hilliard said, “2007 was another very busy, challenging and successful year for
Dublin Airport. Facilitating more than 2 million additional
passengers averaged out at an extra 5,700 passengers every day in 2007.
Our focus last year was to deliver additional capacity and improve facilities
for our customers, which was achieved with the introduction of Check-in Area 14,
a new centralised Garda National Immigration Bureau and Pier D.
“Looking ahead, a further one million additional passengers are expected to
travel through Dublin Airport in 2008. In addition to new routes/services
offering more choice for our customers, all visitors to the airport will see the
landscape of the airport change dramatically as work continues apace on
T2. In the meantime work will shortly commence on a 7,500 sq metre
extension to the existing terminal, which will be completed early in 2009
providing even more benefits for our customers” Mr. Hilliard
concluded.
Ends
22nd January, 2008
Further information contact: Siobhán Moore – 087.2710065
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