More than 1.6 million Irish passengers faced flight disruptions this summer, according to latest research by passenger rights-focused travel tech firm AirHelp.
A total of 6.4 million Irish passengers travelled by air between June and August this year – meaning 25%, one quarter, of passengers were affected by some form of flight disruption during the peak summer holiday season.
In total, 41,000 flights operated during the time period measured.
AirHelp said 56,700 people were eligible for compensation from their airline.
Cork Airport, AirHelp said, was the most punctual Irish airport, with 80% of its passengers departing on time.
The data also revealed that there was a significant spike in flight disruptions on 31st August, with 51% of Irish passengers experiencing delays or cancellations. This was due to poor weather conditions at Dublin Airport which affected runway operations and led to multiple flight diversions and delays.
The days with the lowest levels of disruption, however, were 24th August with only 12% of passengers affected, closely followed by 17th June at 15% and 25th of August at 17%, making them the most reliable dates to travel during the summer period.
Meanwhile, Kerry County Airport and Dublin Airport experienced the highest disruption rates, with 36% and 27% of passengers impacted respectively, highlighting the challenges faced by both regional and major hubs during peak travel months.
When examining the most disrupted routes from Irish airports, flights from Dublin Airport dominated the list, accounting for all the top 25 affected routes. Its route to Bucharest Otopeni Airport in Romania ranked the highest with over 57% of flights disrupted between June and August. Routes from Dublin to Bergamo Orio al Serio and Milano Malpensa in Italy also faced significant delays, affecting 50% and 45% of passengers.
On the other hand, the most fortunate passengers were those who travelled from Cork Airport to London Heathrow with over 95% departing on time this summer. Routes from Dublin Airport to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Cork Airport to Faro Airport in Portugal also demonstrated impressive performance, with punctuality rates of 95% and 91%, respectively.
