The total flights in Irish airspace in August have increased by 1.40%, when compared to August 2011. There was an average of 1,590 daily flights during August 2012, with the busiest day being 4th August with 1,729 flights in Irish airspace.
There was an increase of 2.90% in Ireland’s en-route traffic movements (flights that pass through Irish airspace but do not land in Ireland) during August 2012, in comparison to August 2011. Similarly, North Atlantic Communications flights (Europe/North America) saw an increase 1.36% in August 2012, when compared to August 2011.
On a cumulative basis, the growth in en-route traffic movements and North Atlantic Communications flights for January to August 2012, compared to the same period last year, was just below +1% growth at +0.80% and +0.06%, respectively.
In relation to international arrivals and departures, the commercial terminal traffic for Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports increased by +1.5% in August 2012, when compared to August 2011. This growth in international arrival and departures was largely driven by traffic increases in Dublin Airport.
This is a significant month for Ireland, as it is the first time in 2012 that the Authority has seen growth in each of the main traffic streams of En-Route traffic movements, North Atlantic Communications flights and International Arrivals and Departures during 2012, compared to August 2011.
Individually, the August 2012 figures for commercial terminal flights at the three State airports, when compared to the same month in the previous year are;
– Dublin 2.7%, with an average of 477 daily movements.
– Cork -1.7%, with an average of 71 daily movements.
– Shannon -4.7%, with an average of 56 daily movements.
On a cumulative basis, commercial terminal traffic for Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports for January to August 2012 was down by -1.4%, compared to the same period in 2011.
The most significant growth was for London/Heathrow – Chicago O’Hare International (+28.9%), Paris Charles de Gaulle – New York (+23.3) and New York – London/Heathrow (+16.4%).