The Irish Aviation Authority announced Dublin Airport recorded a very positive month in March 2013 with commercial terminal traffic for international arrivals and departures at the airport up by 4.1% with an average of 408 daily commercial aircraft movements.

The general trend of growth at Dublin Airport is driving overall Irish terminal traffic upward, with the total up 3% in March due a number of events Ireland-France International Rugby Match, the early start of Ryanair summer schedule (15th March), also early Easter Weekend traffic and start of IATA Summer schedule on 31st March, thus offsetting weakness en-route and North America Communications flights as both declined by -2.1% and -3.1% respectively.

The March 2013 figures for the three State airports, when compared to the same month in the previous year are:

Cork Airport: + 0.1%  with an average of 50 commercial daily movements.

Dublin Airport: + 4.1% , with an average of 408 commercial daily movements.

Shannon Airport: -2.9%, with an average of 43 commercial daily movements.

The IAA citing the IATA February traffic report said the outlook for air travel remains positive with business confidence pointing to further growth, but much depends on Eurozone stability: the major downside risk to the current growth trend.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 16th April 2013 All Rights Reserved.