- Cork Airport has marked 20 years since its terminal opened on 1 August 2006
- The facility has handled over 47m passengers since opening
- Twom passengers have passed through the airport in 2026
- A €200m capital development programme is currently under way
- New boarding gates and a pier will support growth towards 5m annual passengers
Cork Airport has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of its terminal building while simultaneously welcoming its two millionth passenger of 2026, with the dual achievements occurring during the August bank holiday weekend. The terminal, which opened on 1 August 2006, has processed more than 47m travellers over two decades while maintaining its original modern architectural design.
Airport staff gathered under the banner “Twenty years young and twom strong” to mark the occasion, with the twom passenger threshold being surpassed only four days later than the previous year’s timeline.
The August bank holiday weekend saw 72,000 passengers pass through the facility, contributing to the milestone achievement. Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director of Cork Airport, has been overseeing a €200m capital development programme, which represents the most ambitious expansion since the terminal’s construction. The programme includes the installation of a new mezzanine floor scheduled to open later this year, enhanced security screening equipment that will allow passengers to leave liquids and electronics inside their luggage, and the long-term addition of new boarding gates and a brand-new pier designed to scale capacity for 5m annual passengers.
Niall MacCarthy shared: “The capital investment programme positions Cork Airport for sustained growth and will ensure we can accommodate the increasing passenger demand we are experiencing across our route network.”
