Owais Crawford
Galway Airport in Ireland closed in 2011, and since then, there have been no direct flights to Galway. However, Galway is easily accessible from several nearby airports, including Dublin Airport, Ireland West International Airport (Knock), and Shannon International Airport. These airports are located within a few hours' drive of Galway and offer bus and car rental services for the onward journey.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport to Galway | Shannon Airport, 40.6 miles away |
| Cork Airport, 101.7 miles away | |
| Dublin Airport, 117 miles away | |
| Ireland West Airport Knock, 87km away | |
| Kerry Airport, 195km away | |
| Waterford Airport, 235km away | |
| City of Derry Airport, 286km away | |
| Galway Airport | Closed in 2011 |
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What You'll Learn
Galway Airport closed in 2011
Galway Airport, located just 6km from the city centre, ceased commercial traffic in 2011 and has not had any scheduled flights since November 2019. The airport was easily accessible for those visiting Galway for business or leisure. However, the airport faced a decline in 2011 when state funding was withdrawn, causing the airline to cease services on the route to Dublin. This was followed by the withdrawal of other routes, including Belfast International and Cork, in 2011. In June 2011, the Irish government announced that funding for Galway Airport would end by December of that year. As a result, Galway Airport lost its aviation licence and closed for commercial traffic.
Despite the closure of Galway Airport, the city remains accessible through nearby airports such as Dublin Airport, Ireland West International Airport at Knock, and Shannon International Airport. These airports offer bus and car rental options for travellers to reach Galway conveniently. Dublin Airport, in particular, provides up to 14 express bus services to Galway, making it a popular choice for those travelling to the city.
Galway Airport briefly reopened to commercial flights in January 2015, operated by Carnmore Aviation Ltd. under licence from Galway County Council. This period was short-lived, as the airport closed again for commercial traffic in May 2015.
Prior to its closure, Galway Airport experienced significant growth and was named the fastest-growing airport in Ireland in 2007, with a remarkable 63% annual passenger growth. The airport served 16 destinations directly, including Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, London Luton, and Manchester.
With the closure of Galway Airport, there are currently no direct flights to the city. However, the region has become more accessible due to the increasing number of airlines flying to Ireland each year, and Ryanair's expanding services from Europe.
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Nearest airports: Shannon, Dublin, Ireland West Knock
Galway does not have its own airport. The closest airports to Galway are Shannon Airport, Dublin Airport, and Ireland West Airport Knock.
Shannon Airport is an international airport located in County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland. It is approximately 85 kilometres or a 1-hour drive from Galway. The airport caters to arrivals and departures for both regional and long-haul flights throughout Europe and North America. Airlines that operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Shannon include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and United Airlines, among others. Shannon Airport also offers United States border pre-clearance services for passengers travelling to the United States, allowing them to complete their paperwork before departure and save time upon arrival.
Dublin Airport is Ireland's busiest airport and is among the ten busiest airports in Europe, handling an average of 60,000 passengers daily. It is located approximately 212 kilometres or a 2.5-hour drive from Galway. Citylink and GoBus provide regular bus services from Dublin Airport to Galway, with Citylink offering up to 14 express services that take around 3 hours to reach Galway.
Ireland West Airport Knock, also known simply as Ireland West Airport, is an international airport in County Mayo in western Ireland. It serves as the main gateway to the West, North West, and Midland regions of the country. The airport is located in Charlestown, about 87 kilometres or a 1-hour drive from Galway. Several airlines offer regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Knock, including Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Flybe, Lauda, and AlbaStar. Bus Éireann operates a regular bus service from Galway to Knock Airport, with multiple departures throughout the day. The journey takes approximately 2 hours.
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Bus services to Galway from airports
Although there are no direct flights to Galway, the city is easily accessible by bus from the nearest airports, including Dublin Airport, Ireland West International Airport (Knock), and Shannon International Airport. Galway Airport itself closed in 2011.
Dublin Airport to Galway
Dublin Airport is about a 2.5-hour drive from Galway. Citylink and Aircoach buses are the best value-for-money options, with modern buses offering free Wi-Fi, lots of luggage storage, and wheelchair accessibility. The journey takes about 3 hours. Tickets can be purchased online or from the driver, and you can show your ticket on your smartphone or tablet.
Ireland West International Airport (Knock) to Galway
Ireland West International Airport, located in County Mayo, is about an hour's drive from Galway. Bus Eireann operates a regular bus service from Galway to Knock Airport, with multiple departures per day. The journey takes about 2 hours, and tickets can be purchased from the driver or online.
Shannon International Airport to Galway
Shannon International Airport, located in County Clare, is about an hour's drive from Galway. Bus Eireann Expressway Route 51 travels from the airport to Galway via Clarecastle, Ennis, Crusheen, Gort, Labane, Ardrahan, Kilcolgan, Clarenbridge, and Oranmore.
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Airlines that fly to Shannon Airport
Galway Airport in Ireland closed down in 2011, but the city is still served by several other airports in the region. Shannon Airport is one of the three primary airports in Ireland, along with Dublin and Cork. It is an international airport located in County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland. It is a gateway to the West of Ireland, servicing many destinations throughout Europe and the US.
Shannon Airport has one main terminal that caters to arrivals and departures for both regional and long-haul flights. London Heathrow, London Stansted, and Boston are the three most popular routes to Shannon. The airport code for Shannon Airport is SNN.
Several airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Shannon Airport. These include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and United Airlines. Aer Lingus offers year-round flights from Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK). United Airlines (Star Alliance) provides seasonal flights from Chicago (ORD) and New York (EWR). Delta (SkyTeam) operates seasonal flights from New York City (JFK). Ryanair offers non-stop flights from three airports in France: Béziers, La Rochelle, and Corfu (Kerkyra) in Greece.
In addition to these carriers, Shannon Airport's website lists American Airlines as offering flights to Shannon. These include routes from New York (JFK) and Philadelphia (PHL) to Shannon.
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Galway Airport's history
Galway Airport was once a thriving hub of aviation activity, serving the beautiful region of Galway on Ireland's west coast. However, its history has been a tumultuous one, with closures, reopenings, and changing fortunes over the years.
In its heyday, Galway Airport was easily accessible, located just 6km from the city centre. It served as a convenient gateway for both business and leisure travellers visiting the region. The airport's history can be traced back to the 1990s when Aer Arann began operating a route to Dublin in 1994, supported by the state-funded public service obligation scheme. This route operated three times daily and facilitated easy travel between Galway and the Irish capital.
The early 2000s saw Galway Airport gaining popularity and expanding its reach. In 2001, Aer Arann introduced a service to London Luton, and by 2003, the load factor had reached an impressive 73%. The airport welcomed its one-millionth passenger in April 2002, a testament to its growing success. This success continued, and by 2007, Galway Airport was officially Ireland's fastest-growing airport, with a remarkable 63% annual passenger growth. That year, the airport served an impressive 309,000 passengers, and its two millionth passenger passed through.
However, Galway Airport's fortunes took a turn in 2008, when national budget cutbacks resulted in a significant reduction in government funding. This led to a decrease in the number of routes and passengers. In 2011, the Irish government announced the cessation of funding for the airport, and Aer Arann suspended its services. Despite protests by airport workers and a brief reopening to commercial flights in 2015, the airport's aviation licence was ultimately revoked in 2016.
Today, while there are no direct flights to Galway, the region remains accessible through nearby airports such as Dublin Airport, Ireland West International Airport Knock, and Shannon International Airport. These airports offer convenient travel options, with bus services and car rental facilitating easy connections to Galway.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no airport in Galway. Galway Airport closed in 2011.
Yes, the closest airports to Galway are Shannon Airport (40.6 miles away), Cork Airport (101.7 miles away), and Dublin Airport (117 miles away).
You can take a bus from Shannon Airport to Galway via Clarecastle, Ennis, Crusheen, Gort, Labane, Ardrahan, Kilcolgan, Clarenbridge, and Oranmore.
The easiest way to travel to Galway from Dublin Airport is with Citylink, which operates up to 14 express services that take 3 hours to get to Galway.
