Of all Irish airport passengers, 73.32pc travelled through Dublin in 2023 compared with 69.56pc in 2022 and 70.15pc in 2019.
The latest set of figures figures released by England’s Civil Aviation Authority that passenger numbers in Belfast and Derry increased in 2023 from the previous year but are still 8pc behind the levels seen in 2019.
Belfast International (up 23.6pc) and Belfast City (up 28pc) airports have experienced significant growth, with a total of 8,072,000 passengers in 2023, up 25% from the previous year, while Derry saw a decrease in passenger numbers by 5.6%.
Compared with 2019 Belfast International is down 5.1pc, Belfast City down 14pc, and Derry down 24.2pc.
Airlines like easyJet and Ryanair are driving growth at Belfast International, which is close to its 2019 figures and expected to exceed them, while Belfast City is still working towards matching its 2019 numbers;
Derry is facing challenges in reaching previous levels of business, with efforts focused on seasonal charters and ski packages. Loganair’s decision to scrap flights to Liverpool in October affected recovery prospects.
