- Cork Airport handled 323,083 passengers in May 2026.
- This figure decreased 2.4pc on May 2025.
- The total increased 35.1pc on pre-pandemic levels.
- The rolling annual total stood at 3,454,565 passengers.
- Passenger numbers rose 6.0pc on the twelve months to May 2025..
Cork Airport has reported passenger numbers of 323,083 for May 2026. The figure shows a decrease of 2.4pc compared with May 2025 but an increase of 35.1pc on pre-pandemic levels. The rolling annual total reached 3,454,565 passengers, up 6.0pc on the twelve months to May 2025.
Monthly figures for 2026 included 203,033 passengers in January, 203,224 in February, 252,326 in March, 295,333 in April and 323,083 in May. The airport processed traffic across these periods while big increases on the 2019 levels continued and matching the growth experienced in 2025. Ryanair moved some routes to Shannon in the interim. New direct routes, including Nice (France) and Santiago de Compostela (Spain) with Aer Lingus. Additionally, the very popular Prague route has been upgraded to a year-round service
Cork Airport has progressed its €200m capital development programme in 2026. Construction continues on a new mezzanine floor above the existing arrivals area to accommodate a new passenger security screening zone. The airport advances multiple projects to support growth towards five million passengers per year.
Work on the mezzanine began in September 2025 with steel frame installation and remains on track for completion in December 2026. Plans include an expanded duty-free shop, a new executive lounge, additional boarding gates, increased car parking capacity, and a new pier with more aircraft stands. The airport lodged planning permission for a 1.7-megawatt solar farm that will cover part of an existing car park and supply around one fifth of the airport’s power needs.
The development programme, launched in May 2025, addresses record passenger numbers that reached 3.4 million in 2025. daa invests in upgraded facilities including new airbridges and improved public transport links. Projects proceed while minimising disruption to ongoing operations.
Niall MacCarthy shared “All of our team are delighted to see that the growth continues at Cork Airport in 2026 having recorded our highest passenger numbers ever in 2025.”
Cork Airport recorded its busiest year on record in 2025 with 3.46 million passengers. Passenger traffic increased 13pc compared to 2024, marking the third consecutive year of double-digit growth.
The previous busiest year in the history of Cork airport was 2008 with 3,258,639 passengers. The Mitchelstown bypass opened on May 25 2009, completing the motorway from Cork to Dublin.
Airport passenger numbers
Belfast City – Belfast International – Belfast combined – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Dublin – Heathrow – Kerry – Knock – Manchester – Shannon
