In 2025, the Mayo airport recorded its highest-ever passenger numbers for a year, a month, and a single day
A total of 946,381 passengers travelled through the airport, a 13.5pc increase from 2024.
Over 6,000 flights arrived and departed during the year, setting new records for monthly and daily traffic.
August was the busiest month in the airport’s history, with 106,361 passengers, and Sunday, August 17, saw the highest single-day total, with more than 4,600 travellers passing through the airport.
2026 will be a milestone year for Knock Airport, as it celebrates 40 years since its official opening in May. The airport also commemorated the 40th anniversary of its first commercial flight last October, marking the historic departure of three Aer Lingus flights to Rome in 1985.
Aer Lingus recorded its busiest-ever year for passenger traffic at the airport last year, with over 96,000 passengers using its London Heathrow service.
Ryanair also achieved its busiest year at Knock, with record numbers of passengers travelling on its services to Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Luton, Manchester, Faro, and Malaga.
The budget airline has plans to expand its services to Malaga, Milan, Liverpool and London in 2026.
Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair recorded their busiest ever years at the airport in 2025. Photo: Michael Mc Laughlin
Knock Airport now serves 21 international destinations and is operated by three of Europe’s major airlines: Aer Lingus, Lauda Europe, and Ryanair.
Passenger numbers on UK routes reached 732,501 last year, a 10pc increase on 2024 and a new record for UK traffic to and from Knock.
As well, mainland and continental European routes carried 207,603 passengers, a 28pc increase, with flights going to destinations including Alicante, Barcelona, Faro, Majorca, Malaga, Milan, Cologne, Lanzarote, and Tenerife.
The airport’s continued growth comes as plans for a major expansion through the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) move forward. The development is expected to play a key role in driving economic growth across the west of Ireland.
Central to the project is the SDZ Roadmap, which will outline how to capitalise on the zone’s unique location, clarify the planning certainty offered by the SDZ designation, and identify any financial or other support required. The roadmap is now a top priority and is scheduled for completion by August 2026.
To ensure its delivery, the Government has funded a dedicated Project Manager, with progress overseen by a Steering Committee chaired by Mayo County Council.
Minister of State Alan Dillon confirmed today that he has attended “a series of high-level meetings” regarding the SDZ in recent months, and said he will also meet with the Steering Committee early this year to review progress.
The airport will celebrate 40 years since its official opening in May 2026. Photo: Ireland West Airport.
2025 saw continued investment in the Airport Transformation Programme, with several infrastructure projects completed to maintain the highest international safety and security standards at Knock, as well as modernising the airport’s facilities.
With support from the Department of Transport, nearly €8 million was invested in 2025. Key developments included a new sheltered passenger walkway and the start of a 1.5MW PV solar farm at the airport.
Planning permission was also granted last year for the construction of a new aircraft hangar and a warehouse storage facility at Knock Airport Business Park.
Proposed by EirTrade Aviation Ireland Limited, the 3.1-hectare site is located roughly one kilometre west of the airport. It is zoned for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) activities within the airport’s SDZ.
The airport also maintained its Level three Accreditation, ‘Optimisation’, which recognised its efforts to address its CO2 emissions as part of the aviation industry’s global climate response.
Commenting on the 2025 performance, Arthur French, Chairman of Ireland West Airport, said: “We are delighted to report a record year for passenger numbers at the airport, the third consecutive year of record passenger traffic, which is a testament to the continued strong support for the airport,
“Demand for our routes and services from right across the region and overseas continues to grow, reflected in record passenger numbers of 946,381 last year and, in turn, making it Ireland’s fastest-growing airport.”
He paid special tribute to the staff at Knock airport for their “ongoing dedication and focus on ensuring every journey through the airport is both safe and welcoming.”
Mr French added: “We look forward with great optimism for the year ahead and to celebrating a wonderful milestone for the airport as we mark the 40th anniversary of the official opening of the airport, which will be a momentous occasion for the airport and the west of Ireland.”
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.