
Ireland has a number of regional and international airports. The largest airport in Ireland is Dublin Airport, which is the 12th or 13th busiest airport in Europe. Other major airports include Cork, Shannon, Knock and Belfast International Airport. Smaller regional airports include Donegal, Kerry, Galway, Sligo, Waterford and Connemara Airport.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Number of airports | 4 main airports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon and Knock. There are also smaller regional airports at Donegal, Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Waterford. |
Busiest airport | Dublin Airport is the busiest airport in Ireland and the 12th busiest in Europe. In 2019, 32.9 million passengers passed through the airport. |
Second busiest airport | Belfast International Airport is the second busiest airport in Ireland. |
Popular airports | Belfast International Airport, Shannon Airport, and City of Derry Airport are also popular. |
What You'll Learn
Ireland's busiest airports
Ireland has four main airports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon and Knock. There are also smaller regional airports at Donegal, Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Waterford. The busiest of these is Dublin Airport, which is located in Collinstown, 7 km north of Dublin, and 3 km south of the town of Swords. In 2019, 32.9 million passengers passed through the airport, making it the airport's busiest year on record. It is the 12th busiest airport in Europe, and is the busiest of Ireland's airports by total passenger traffic. The airport has an extensive short and medium-haul network, served by an array of carriers, as well as a significant long-haul network focused on North America and the Middle East.
Shannon Airport is another of the more popular Irish airports thanks to its prime location along the Wild Atlantic Way on Ireland’s west coast. It is one of the few airports outside North America that offers US Preclearance facilities. Shannon welcomed 1.5 million passengers in 2022. It is serviced by Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines.
Belfast International Airport is Northern Ireland’s main airport and the second-largest of the many international airports in Ireland. Although its 2022 passenger figures don’t appear to be available, millions land and take off here each year.
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Northern Ireland's main airport
There are a number of regional and international airports in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The largest airport in Ireland is Dublin Airport, which is also the busiest of Ireland's airports by total passenger traffic.
Belfast International Airport is Northern Ireland's main airport. It is the second-largest of the many international airports in Ireland and is located 11.5 NM (21.3 km; 13.2 mi) northwest of Belfast. It is the busiest airport in Northern Ireland and the 10th busiest airport in the UK by passenger traffic. In 2024, over 6.7 million passengers travelled through the airport, a 13% increase compared with 2023, and the highest number in the airport's history. The majority of flights from Belfast International are operated by easyJet, Northern Ireland's biggest airline. It features flights to some European metropolitan and several leisure destinations.
Belfast International Airport was known as Aldergrove Airport until 1983, after the nearby village of Aldergrove, County Antrim. In 1971, Northern Ireland Airports Limited was formed to operate and develop the airport and its facilities. A major programme of airfield upgrades was undertaken, resulting in improvements to runways, taxiways and the parking apron. A new International Pier was built, along with lounge facilities and car parks. The airport operates four car parks, three on-site and one off-site. The on-site short-stay and main car parks are within easy walking distance of the terminal building, and an on-demand courtesy bus operates to and from the on-site long-stay car park. The off-site short- or long-stay car park, called 'Park and Fly', is located just before the main entrance to the airport, and is also serviced by a courtesy bus.
The City of Derry Airport is located 11.2 km outside of Derry City and is a great starting point if you’re looking to explore Derry, the Antrim Coast or Donegal. It is one of the better-connected Irish airports, with direct flights to London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Liverpool, along with connections to the UAE, Australia and America via Manchester and Glasgow.
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Airports in the Republic of Ireland
There are a number of regional and international airports in the Republic of Ireland. Dublin Airport is the largest airport in Ireland, and in 2018 was the 13th busiest airport in Europe. In 2019, 32.9 million passengers passed through the airport, making it the busiest year on record. It is the 12th busiest airport in Europe and is the busiest of Ireland's airports by total passenger traffic. It is also the airport with the largest traffic levels on the island of Ireland, followed by Belfast International Airport.
Ireland has four main airports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon and Knock. There are also smaller regional airports at Donegal, Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Waterford. The latter three, as of July 2019, do not have any scheduled flights.
Shannon Airport is one of the more popular airports in Ireland thanks to its location along the Wild Atlantic Way on Ireland’s west coast. It is one of the few airports outside North America that offers US Preclearance facilities. In 2022, 1.5 million passengers passed through Shannon Airport.
Connemara Airport is one of the smaller Irish airports, located in Inverin, 28 km outside of Galway City Centre. It solely serves the Aran Islands – Inis Mor, Inis Oirr and Inis Meain.
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Airports in Ireland with US Preclearance facilities
Ireland has four main airports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon and Knock. There are also smaller regional airports at Donegal, Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Waterford.
Shannon Airport is one of the few airports outside North America that offers US Preclearance facilities. It is located on the Wild Atlantic Way on Ireland’s west coast and is serviced by Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines.
Dublin Airport is the largest airport in Ireland and the 12th busiest airport in Europe. It is located in Collinstown, 7 km north of Dublin, and 3 km south of the town of Swords. It is served by an extensive short and medium-haul network, as well as a significant long-haul network focused on North America and the Middle East.
Belfast International Airport is Northern Ireland’s main airport and the second largest in Ireland. It is located 24 km west of Belfast and is served by Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, and Thomas Cook.
The City of Derry Airport is located 11.2 km outside of Derry City and offers direct flights to London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Liverpool, along with connections to the UAE, Australia and America via Manchester and Glasgow.
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Airports in Ireland with the most scheduled flights
Ireland has four main airports: Cork, Dublin, Shannon and Knock. There are also smaller regional airports at Donegal, Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Waterford. The busiest airport in Ireland is Dublin Airport, which is located in Collinstown, 7 km north of Dublin and 3 km south of Swords. In 2019, 32.9 million passengers passed through the airport, making it the busiest year on record. It is the 12th busiest airport in Europe. The second busiest airport in Ireland is Belfast International Airport, which is Northern Ireland's main airport. It takes flights from over 70 destinations and millions of passengers land and take off there each year. Another popular airport in Ireland is Shannon Airport, which is located on the Wild Atlantic Way on Ireland's west coast. It is one of the few airports outside North America that offers US Preclearance facilities. In 2022, 1.5 million passengers passed through Shannon Airport.
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Frequently asked questions
There are four main airports in Ireland: Cork, Dublin, Shannon and Knock. There are also smaller regional airports at Donegal, Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Waterford.
Dublin Airport is the busiest airport in Ireland, with 32.9 million passengers passing through in 2019, making it the 12th busiest airport in Europe.
Belfast International Airport is the second busiest airport in Ireland. It is the second largest of the many international airports in Ireland and it takes flights from over 70 destinations.
Connemara Airport is one of the smaller Irish airports. It is located in Inverin, 28 km outside of Galway City Centre. It solely serves the Aran Islands.