Almost 4.5 million people flew between Dublin and London last year, a 9% increase for air traffic between the two capital cities.
Passenger numbers between Dublin Airport and the five London airports served by airlines operating from Dublin increased by 370,000 last year, with extra capacity on a number of routes. Dublin-London is the busiest air route in Europe and the second busiest international air route in the world behind Hong Kong-Taipei, which has more than 5 million passengers per year.
“The London market, which is a key destination for Dublin Airport, had a very strong year in 2015,” said Vincent Harrison, Dublin Airport Managing Director. “The number of people who travelled by air between Dublin and London last year was the equivalent of almost the entire population of the Republic of Ireland. That meant that every week last year 86,000 people flew between Dublin and London – that is more than a full Croke Park stadium or an almost full Wembley Stadium flying between the two cities every seven days.”
Four airlines – Aer Lingus, British Airways, CityJet and Ryanair – currently operate routes from Dublin Airport to London serving London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London City and London Luton airports.
The Dublin-London route accounted for almost 18% of Dublin Airport’s total traffic last year and attracts a high degree of business travel. “A quarter of all passengers on Dublin-London services are travelling for business, which is high by European standards,” added Vincent.
Trade between the Republic of Ireland and the UK is worth €58 billion per year, according to the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, comprising €32 billion of exports from Ireland and €26 billion of imports to Ireland. “Dublin-London is one of world’s busiest trade corridors and Dublin Airport is delighted to help facilitate increased trade and travel between the two countries.”
There is also a strong leisure market as both Dublin and London are major tourist destinations. “London is the most popular destination from Dublin Airport and has been for many years. London is one of the great cities of the world and is hugely popular with Irish visitors either on holidays or visiting friends and relatives.
“Dublin and its hinterland has long been a popular short-break destinations for British tourists and, alongside other stakeholders, Dublin Airport is supporting the new Dublin tourism brand to help grow that business and encourage visitors to explore more of the city and the region.”
The daa and other commercial partners, such as Dublin hotels, the Guinness Storehouse, Brown Thomas, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Retail Excellence Ireland, have contributed to a €1 million marketing campaign in Britain, France and Germany that is led by Fáilte Ireland and also backed by the four local authorities in Dublin city and county. The campaign aims to significantly increase visitors numbers to Dublin and tourism spend in Dublin over the next four years.
Overall, passenger numbers at Dublin Airport increased by 15% last year to a record 25 million passengers as the airport welcomed 22 new routes and additional capacity on almost 40 other services. An extra 3.3 million people used Dublin Airport last year, as it had record levels of traffic in all its major market sectors.
