Ruth Haines
Dublin Airport has been serving passengers since the 1950s and has undergone several expansions to accommodate growing traffic and passenger numbers. In 1971, Aer Lingus acquired two new Boeing 747 aircraft, with the first one arriving in March and performing a flyover above O'Connell Street in Dublin on Saint Patrick's Day. Dublin Airport's Terminal 2, which opened in 2010, provides aircraft parking for 27 narrow-body aircraft through 25 departure gates and 16 immigration desks, capable of handling up to 15 million passengers annually. While the Airlink Express 747 bus route previously served Dublin Airport, it is currently suspended.
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What You'll Learn
Dublin Airport's history of expansion
Dublin Airport, located in Collinstown, officially opened on January 19, 1940, with an inaugural flight to Liverpool. The airport was developed on a site that initially included a grass airfield surface, internal roads, car parks, and electrical power and lighting. By 1947, flights from Dublin had reached Continental Europe, with Dutch airline KLM initiating the first European service to the city.
During the 1950s, Dublin Airport experienced significant expansion, marked by uninterrupted traffic growth. To accommodate this growth, runway extensions and terminal enhancements were undertaken. New airlines also began serving the airport, including British European Airways, Sabena, and BKS. By 1950, after a decade of operations, the airport had served a total of 920,000 passengers.
However, by the mid-1950s, the original terminal building became inadequate for the increasing passenger numbers. In response, a new North Terminal was inaugurated in June 1959, serving as the arrivals terminal for all passengers. The original terminal was then dedicated to departures. As the number of scheduled carriers continued to grow in the 1960s, new departure gate piers were added near the old terminal to accommodate larger aircraft.
Dublin Airport's expansion continued in the 1970s, with the construction of a new £10 million terminal, known as Terminal 1, which opened in June 1972. This terminal was designed to handle six million passengers annually. The airport underwent further development in subsequent decades, including the addition of a new terminal, departure gate piers, runway extensions, and taxiways. In November 2010, Terminal 2 was opened, enabling the airport to handle over 30 million passengers per year.
Today, Dublin Airport is the 13th busiest airport in Europe and the busiest in Ireland, handling over 34.6 million passengers in 2024, making it the busiest year on record. The airport serves as a hub for Aer Lingus and is the home base for Europe's largest low-cost carrier, Ryanair.
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Terminal 1's capacity
Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport was opened in June 1972, with the capacity to handle five to six million passengers per year. The original design included plans for a second pier, identical to the current decagon-shaped Pier B, but this was never built.
The terminal was built in response to the growing number of passengers passing through the airport. During the 1950s, Dublin Airport expanded rapidly, with new airlines serving the airport, including British European Airways, Sabena, and BKS. By the mid-1950s, the original terminal building had become too small, and a new North Terminal was opened in June 1959 to accommodate the growing number of passengers.
Despite the construction of Terminal 1, the anticipated growth during the 1970s did not materialise immediately. However, in 1983, Aer Lingus opened its 'Aer Lingus Commuter' division, which introduced regular daily domestic services to and from Ireland's smaller regional airports. This division also served existing routes to smaller regional airports in the United Kingdom.
Today, Terminal 1 continues to serve as one of the main terminals at Dublin Airport, alongside Terminal 2, which opened in November 2010. Terminal 2 was designed to handle up to 15 million passengers annually and primarily serves as a hub for traffic between Europe and the United States.
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Terminal 2's aircraft parking
Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport is a 75,000 square metre terminal and pier (Pier E) that can accommodate 27 narrow-body aircraft and handle up to 15 million passengers annually. The terminal has 25 departure gates and 16 immigration desks. Aer Lingus is the main carrier operating at Terminal 2, which serves as a hub for travel between Europe and the United States.
There are various parking options available for passengers using Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport. The airport offers both short-term and long-term parking options, with official and unofficial, privately-run car parks to choose from. Short-term parking is suitable for quick trips, while long-term parking is more economical for extended stays.
Dublin Airport's multi-storey short-term car park for Terminal 2 is located within a 2-4 minute walk of the terminal through a covered walkway. This car park has 1,800 spaces and offers a concierge-style parking service, where passengers can drop off their keys and have their car parked for them.
In addition to the official car parks, there are also privately-run car parks located a few minutes away from the terminal, which may offer more affordable rates. When choosing a private car park, it is important to consider factors such as safety, trustworthiness, and reviews to ensure the legitimacy of the company.
To save money on Terminal 2 parking, passengers can book online and use price comparison tools to find the best deals. By booking in advance, passengers can secure their parking space and take advantage of early bird rates offered by some car parks. It is recommended to research and compare different parking options to find the most suitable and cost-effective choice for their needs.
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Runway extensions
Dublin Airport has a long history of expansion and enhancements to accommodate growing traffic and passengers. This includes runway extensions carried out throughout the 1950s to handle the increasing number of airlines serving the airport. During this time, Dublin Airport witnessed virtually uninterrupted traffic growth, with new airlines such as British European Airways, Sabena, and BKS joining its roster.
In 1989, amidst intensifying competition on the Dublin-London routes, passenger numbers surged to 5.1 million. This prompted the opening of a new 8,650-foot (2,640-metre) runway and a state-of-the-art air traffic control centre. The airport continued its rapid expansion in the 1990s, with significant enhancements to Pier A and the construction of Pier C, complete with air bridges.
In 2007, the shortest runway, 11/29, was closed and converted into an aircraft storage area. This runway was subsequently demolished to make way for a second long runway, constructed in parallel to 10/28.
In August 2022, Dublin Airport inaugurated its highly anticipated North Runway, a project that received planning permission 15 years prior. This new runway, which cost €320 million, is designed to accommodate larger aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing B747-8. It also provides additional runway slot capacity for short-haul flights during peak periods. The North Runway is pivotal to Dublin's evolving role as a pivotal travel hub between Europe and North America, fostering enhanced connectivity and a broader range of travel options for business and leisure travellers alike.
The development of the North Runway is part of a broader capital investment programme envisioned by DAA, encompassing plans for a refurbished terminal, new piers, gates, stands, and transfer facilities. These enhancements aim to ensure a compelling and enduring service for future generations of travellers to and from Ireland.
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Airport bus services
Dublin Airport offers a range of bus services to and from the airport, with routes across the city centre and county, as well as further afield. Dublin Bus operates the 41 bus route, which runs 24/7 to the city centre via Swords, with a standard one-way fare of €2.60. This route is wheelchair accessible and has limited luggage storage. Go-Ahead Ireland also operates the 102 route to Sutton Station, serving Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock and Sutton, as well as the 33A route serving Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush, Lusk and Swords.
Dublin Express provides a premium coach service between the airport and the city centre, with 15+ stops including Temple Bar, Trinity College, O'Connell Street and Heuston Station. Coaches are equipped with Wi-Fi, USB charging and onboard toilets, and routes 782 and 784 run daily from 04:05 to 00:35, with an average journey time of 30 minutes.
Aircoach operates routes to the city centre and county, departing from outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Route 700 serves the city centre and Leopardstown via Drumcondra, Donnybrook, UCD and Stillorgan, while routes 702 and 703 serve Greystones and Killiney via Ballsbridge and Blackrock. Tickets can be purchased online, at Aircoach departure points or from the driver using card or mobile payments.
Dublin Coach offers two routes from the airport: the 726 service to Portlaoise via Kildare, and the 750 service to Dundrum. The Airport Hopper bus also provides a pick-up and drop-off service at the Coach Park Zone 16. John McGinley Coach Travel is another operator offering coach services to and from the airport.
In addition to these services, there is the Airlink Express 747, which serves various stops across the city.
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