Cork Airport welcomed 323,083 passengers during May. As Cork Airport crossed the one millionth passenger mark on the May Bank Holiday weekend, the first full month of the summer schedule has got off to a flying start. Since January 1, the airport has welcomed a total of 1,276,987 passengers which is showing a 1% decrease on the previous year – the airport’s busiest year ever. This represents a changing mix in 2026 with more KLM and Air France passengers and less Ryanair passengers. Passenger numbers last month are up 35% when compared to pre-COVID levels. 

Traffic on key European hub services experienced another busy month with +33% more passengers flying on Air France’s daily Paris Charles de Gaulle service and +34% passengers flying on KLM’s three-times daily Amsterdam service. UK routes – particularly Edinburgh and London Stansted – showed strong growth versus last year as numbers increased by 18% and 6% respectively. 

Aer Lingus’ new route to Nice got underway in May and is flying every Wednesday and Saturday to the Cote D’Azur.  

Commenting on May passenger traffic, Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said: “May passenger numbers at 323,083 were slightly down on the same month in the prior year due to the effects of some market consolidation. On a year-to-date basis up to May 31, we are tracking -1% versus the same period last year, which was our busiest year ever. We’re delighted that Aer Lingus started flying its summer seasonal Nice service in May, connecting Cork with the French Riviera. Meanwhile, despite passenger numbers being up 35% on pre-COVID levels, and a very busy capital programme underway, the passenger journey at Cork Airport is as friendly and seamless as ever.”