Cork Airport welcomed 360,535 passengers in August, rounding off the school holiday season on a good note

Cork Airport welcomed 360,535 passengers in August. Passenger numbers in August were up 21% when compared to pre-COVID levels (August 2019). Since January 1, the airport has welcomed a total of 2,337,756 passengers which represents an increase of 30% on pre-COVID levels, but a slight 1% decrease on the previous year – the airport’s busiest year ever. This represents a changing mix in 2026 versus 2025 with more KLM, Air France, Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional and SunExpress passengers and less Ryanair passengers.

UK provincial traffic continues to perform strongly, with passenger numbers up +5% in August, compared with last year. Traffic on Aer Lingus Regional’s Glasgow service was up +36% while Ryanair’s Liverpool route continues to perform very strongly, up +35% % in line with capacity increases. On the continent, Ryanair’s Milan Bergamo service recorded +74% more passengers last month and both KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Air France recorded a very busy month, with passenger traffic on the Amsterdam and Paris Charles de Gaulle routes up +43% and +12% respectively.

The construction of the airport’s new mezzanine floor and passenger security screening area is entering its final phase, with an opening of the facility due to take place in December of this year. When opened, it will introduce the most modern and most efficient security screening technology, eliminating the need for passengers to remove liquids and large electronic items from their hand luggage. Other important infrastructure development works on the Holiday Blue car park extension and new executive lounge are also advancing. Providing over 600 new car parking spaces, the car park extension will be completed in October 2026 while the executive lounge is on course for opening by end of March 2027.

Commenting on August passenger traffic, Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport said: “August saw a very busy month with passenger numbers of 360,535. The overall number of passengers is substantially (+21%) up on our pre-COVID levels but down (4%) on the same month in the prior year due to the effects of some market consolidation by Ryanair. We are delighted with the performance and growth of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, Aer Lingus, Aer Lingus Regional and SunExpress who all grew their passenger numbers at Cork Airport in August versus the same month last year. On a year-to-date basis up to August 31, we are tracking -1% versus the same period last year, which was our busiest year ever. We are preparing now for the opening of our new mezzanine area in December 2026 which will further improve the passenger journey.”