Jazmin Li
Galway Airport (GWY) has had a turbulent history, with several closures and reopenings. As of 2023, the airport remains closed to commercial traffic and is used only by the Galway Flying Club. However, that doesn't mean you can't fly to Galway – it's just a matter of finding the nearest airport. Shannon Airport, for example, is connected to Galway City by bus and rail. You can also find cheap flights to Galway from the United States and Europe, with airlines such as Aer Lingus, Delta, and Scandinavian Airlines offering flights to nearby airports. So, while you may not be able to fly directly into Galway Airport, there are still plenty of options for visiting this beautiful part of Ireland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Galway Airport Status | Closed to commercial traffic since 2016 |
| Usage | Used by Galway Flying Club and for concerts |
| Past Airlines | Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Aer Arann, Manx2 |
| Past Destinations | London, Dublin, Luton, Lorient, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cork, Southend, Amsterdam |
| Nearest Operational Airports | Shannon Airport, Connemara Regional Airport |
| Transport Options | Car, cab, bus |
| Travel Time from Shannon Airport | About 2 hours |
| Airlines Offering Flights to Galway | Tap Air Portugal, Delta, American, Aer Lingus, Scandinavian Airlines, Air Canada, United |
| Cheap Flight Options | Flying from New York, starting at $366 |
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What You'll Learn
Galway Airport is closed to commercial traffic
Galway Airport is currently closed to commercial traffic. The airport briefly reopened to commercial flights in 2015, but closed again in 2016. Since then, it has only been used by the Galway Flying Club, with the site being considered for alternative uses.
The airport's history with commercial traffic has been turbulent. In 2007, Galway Airport was officially Ireland's fastest-growing airport, with passenger growth at 63%. However, after 2008, the number of routes and passengers dropped significantly. In 2011, the Irish government announced that funding for the airport would cease, and Aer Arann, the airline operating from the airport, suspended its services for the winter season. Despite airport management's assurances that the airport would remain open, the aviation licence was ceased in 2013, effectively closing the facility to commercial traffic.
In 2015, the airport briefly reopened to commercial flights, operated by Carnmore Aviation Ltd. under licence from Galway County Council. However, this was short-lived, as the airport closed again to commercial traffic in 2016. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport buildings were used by Irish Health Authorities as a testing centre.
As of 2023, the airport remains closed to commercial traffic, and plans to redevelop the site for film and TV production have not progressed. While there have been discussions about future ownership options, no concrete plans have been announced.
Despite Galway Airport being closed, there are still travel options available for those looking to fly to the Galway region. Connemara Regional Airport and Shannon Airport offer alternative flight options, with Bus Eireann providing a direct route from Shannon Airport to Galway City. Additionally, various airlines offer flights to other airports in Ireland, such as Dublin Airport, with connections to Galway.
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Alternative airports near Galway
Galway Airport has been closed to commercial traffic since 2016, with only a local flying club using the airport. However, there are several alternative airports near Galway that you can fly into. Here is a list of the closest airports to Galway and their distances:
- Connemara Regional Airport (NNR / EICA), Co. Galway: This airport is the closest to Galway, located just 31 km away. It is a small airport offering regular scheduled flights to the Aran Islands and scenic flights in the area.
- Shannon International Airport (SNN / EINN), County Clare: Located 85 km from Galway, Shannon Airport is one of Ireland's primary three airports. It offers regional, short, and medium-haul flights within Europe and long-haul flights to North America. Airlines operating from Shannon include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and United Airlines, among others. Shannon Airport also provides United States border pre-clearance services for US-bound passengers, allowing them to complete their paperwork before departure.
- Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC / EIKN), Charlestown, Co. Mayo: Situated 87 km from Galway, Ireland West Airport Knock is the main international air gateway for the West, North-West, and Midland regions of Ireland. It offers international flights and is a convenient option for those travelling to or from the western regions of Ireland.
- Dublin Airport, Co. Dublin: Dublin Airport is Ireland's largest and busiest international airport, located 212 km from Galway. It boasts an extensive network of short, medium, and long-haul flights, serving North America, the Middle East, and East Asia. With two major terminals, Dublin Airport handles a high volume of passengers, averaging 60,000 passengers per day, and up to 80,000 during peak times.
These alternative airports provide various travel options for those looking to visit Galway and the surrounding regions. It is worth checking the specific flight routes and schedules offered by each airport to determine the most convenient option for your journey.
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Airlines that previously served Galway Airport
Galway Airport is located 7.4 km (4.6 miles) east of Galway City in County Galway, Ireland. The airport briefly reopened in 2015 but has since remained closed to commercial traffic. It is now used only by the Galway Flying Club. Several airlines previously served Galway Airport, offering flights to various destinations.
One such airline was Aer Arann, a small airline company that offered regular scheduled flights to the Aran Islands and scenic flights in the area. Aer Arann began operating from Galway Airport in 1974 and provided several routes, including Dublin, Luton, Lorient (seasonal), Manchester, and Edinburgh. In 2008, they added a service to Amsterdam via Waterford Airport, but it was discontinued after a short period. Aer Arann also launched twice-daily flights to Southend Airport in 2011. However, in October 2011, Aer Arann announced that it would suspend its services from Galway for the winter season, and they ceased commercial operations at the airport.
Another airline that served Galway Airport was Ryanair. They offered direct flights to London and competed with Aer Lingus, which provided flights to Heathrow, Amsterdam, and Paris on selected days via Dublin. However, due to business restructuring, Ryanair withdrew its London service in 1991, and Aer Lingus followed suit soon after.
Manx2 was another airline that briefly served Galway Airport, offering services to Belfast International and Cork starting in 2010. However, these services were withdrawn in 2011.
While Galway Airport is currently closed to commercial traffic, there have been discussions about future ownership options and redevelopment plans.
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Tips for flying from Galway Airport
Galway Airport has been closed to commercial traffic since 2016, with the site being used by the Galway Flying Club and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a testing centre by Irish Health Authorities. Therefore, the following tips are based on the assumption that the airport will reopen to commercial flights in the future.
- Transport to the airport: If you don't want to deal with parking, get a friend or family member to drive you to the airport and use short-term parking. Alternatively, if you're travelling with a colleague, share a cab ride and enjoy a curbside drop-off. Galway Airport also offers long-term parking if you need to drive yourself and want to keep your car somewhere safe and secure.
- Nearest airports: If you're looking to fly out of Galway but can't find a suitable flight, consider the nearest airports: Shannon Airport, Dublin Airport, and Ireland West International Airport at Knock. All three airports offer bus services to Galway through Bus Eireann.
- Airlines: In the past, Galway Airport has been served by Aer Arann, which operated flights to Dublin, Luton, Lorient (seasonal), Manchester, and Edinburgh. In 2010, Manx2 added services to Belfast International and Cork, but these were withdrawn in 2011. It's worth checking if these airlines still operate similar routes, as they may be useful for travel to and from Galway.
- Future developments: Keep an eye out for future developments at Galway Airport. In 2021, plans were announced to redevelop the site as a film studio, but as of 2023, these have not proceeded. There may be new plans or ownership changes that could impact the airport's operations and flight offerings.
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Cheap flights to Galway from the US
Galway Airport in Ireland has been closed to commercial traffic since 2016 and is currently only used by the Galway Flying Club. However, there are a few nearby airports you can fly into when travelling to Galway, including Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport. Dublin Airport is the more popular option for travellers, but Shannon Airport is closer to the city centre, at 40 miles away.
To find cheap flights to Galway from the US, you can use websites like Expedia or Google Flights. According to Expedia, the best day of the week to book your trip is Sunday, which can save you about 8% compared to booking on a Friday. For domestic flights, it's recommended to book your flight to Galway 28 days in advance, while for international flights, it's best to book two to four months ahead of time.
Boston and Newark are two US cities that offer nonstop journeys to Galway. You can also find round-trip flights to Galway from Seattle, starting at $342 for the dates August 17 to August 26. Delta Airlines offers direct flights from Galway to New York, and other popular destinations from Galway include London, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Miami, and Rio de Janeiro.
When using Google Flights, you can select your departure city and use the calendar feature to find the lowest fares available. You can also set up price alerts on the Expedia app, which will notify you when fares change.
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Frequently asked questions
Galway Airport is currently closed for commercial traffic and is only used by the Galway Flying Club. However, there are several nearby airports you can fly to, including Shannon Airport and Dublin Airport.
There are several cheap flight options available to Galway from the United States. These include:
- Flying with Tap Air Portugal from Chicago
- Flying with Delta from Seattle
- Flying with American, Aer Lingus from Dallas
- Flying with Scandinavian Airlines from Atlanta
- Flying with Air Canada, United from New York
- Flying with Scandinavian Airlines from Los Angeles
You can find last-minute flight deals to Galway by using online tools such as Google Flights or Travelocity. These websites allow you to compare prices, track fares, and set up price alerts for your preferred travel dates. Booking in advance is usually the best way to find cheap flights.
