How did Ireland West Airport become the fastest-growing airport in 2025?
Key Points
- 1946,381 passengers traveled through Ireland West Airport in 2025, a new record.
- 2The 13.5% passenger increase over 2024 secured the airport's claim as Ireland's fastest-growing airport.
- 3Almost €8,000,000 was invested in infrastructure, including a new solar farm, with Department of Transport support.
- 4Continental European traffic surged by 28%, while UK traffic grew by 10%.
Ireland West Airport (IWA) has reported a landmark year for commercial aviation news and passenger traffic. The airport welcomed 946,381 passengers in 2025, a new all-time high. This figure surpassed the previous record of 834,000 passengers set in 2024. The 13.5% increase in record passenger numbers positioned IWA as Ireland’s fastest-growing airport last year.
IWA now serves 21 international destinations. The airport is supported by major European airlines: Aer Lingus, Lauda Europe, and Ryanair. Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair saw their busiest-ever year at the airport.
Growth in International Connectivity
Strong demand drove the overall passenger growth. Traffic on UK routes reached a new record of 732,501 passengers. This represents a 10% increase compared to 2024 figures. The UK Continental Europe market is vital for IWA. Aer Lingus carried over 96,000 passengers on its London Heathrow service alone.
Continental European routes saw even sharper growth. Traffic to and from Mainland and Continental Europe totaled 207,603 passengers. This marked a significant 28% increase over 2024. Destinations like Alicante, Malaga, and Milan proved very popular. August was the busiest month in IWA's history, with 106,361 passengers.
Infrastructure and Sustainability Investment
This growth was backed by key aviation infrastructure investment. The Airport Transformation Programme continued throughout 2025. Almost €8,000,000 was invested in safety and security projects. This funding was provided with support from the Department of Transport.
Key projects completed included a new sheltered passenger walkway. Work also began on a new 1.5MW PV Solar farm. The airport maintained its Level 3 ‘Optimisation’ accreditation. This recognizes the airport's efforts to address CO2 emissions.
Chairman Arthur French thanked staff and stakeholders for their support. He noted the international connectivity continues to expand. Looking ahead, 2026 marks the airport’s 40th anniversary. Passenger numbers are forecast to exceed 950,000 for the first time. Ryanair plans to add extra capacity on several routes, including Malaga and London. Read more about commercial aviation news on flying.flights.
- Opportunity: The record growth positions IWA for further route expansion. This strengthens the regional economy and tourism.
- Challenge: Continued investment is required to manage the increased passenger volume. This must maintain high safety and security standards.
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