Media Archive

June saw a record number of passengers transiting through Galway Airport. For the first time since its inception over 20,000 passengers used the facility at Carnmore.

The figure of 20,448 represents a 74% increase in traffic over June 2003 when 12,010 passengers were recorded. It is expected that overall growth for 2004 will far outstrip a record year in 2003 that was over 30% ahead of the previous year. In the first six months of 2004 overall traffic is 58% up on last year representing 97,934 passengers, an increase of 36,007. These increases are expected to be maintained for the second half of the year, with passenger projections exceeding 200,000 - a 100% increase in just two years.

The figures will maintain Galway Airport’s position as the fastest growing airport in Ireland. The figures have been achieved through vigorous new route development over the last few years. In September of 2002 Aer Arann launched a new daily service to London, which has been hugely successful, so much so that they launched a second daily service to Luton in June of this year using their larger ATR 72 aircraft with a capacity of 66 people on both rotations. June of last year saw the development of a direct Manchester service, which again has performed exceptionally well with over 25,000 passengers using the service in its first year of operation. December of 2003 saw further expansion with the creation of the first connection to Scotland through Edinburgh with Aer Arann. Edinburgh, just over an hour from Galway is very popular as a leisure break destination.

In January of this year Aer Arann announced yet another new service, this time to Birmingham. The route, which began in May, is expected to perform well considering the large number of international conferences that take place in the city each year, in tandem with the large Irish population. In March, British Airways announced their intention to operate a Galway Glasgow service through their franchise partner Loganair. The service has been operational since May and is popular with both the leisure and business sectors, and is expected to be a major boost to Celtic supporters when the football season begins. A major milestone was then passed in May with Aer Arann announcing a service to Lorient in France, the first scheduled connection to continental Europe from Galway.

Commenting on the growth Galway Airport General Manager Jarlath Feeney said he is ‘committed to ensuring that the seven destinations now served from Galway remain successful and looks forward to future growth. Although there are still one or two additional UK cities we would like to connect to, we are investigating the possibility of connecting Galway to major centres of population in mainland Europe. Mr Feeney also praised Aer Arann, for their continued commitment to Galway Airport, and looks forward to further developing the ongoing relationship between the airport and the airline.

In separate developments the airport has retained the Q mark for a second year, having been awarded the best newcomer to the scheme last year. Indeed, the airport improved on last year’s score, and has again been short-listed for the national quality awards. On-going work at the airport will see the installation of an Instrument Landing system before the winter, reducing the threat of weather diversions, along with new approach lighting, runway edge lighting, and an extra taxiway. A further two hundred car parking spaces were also provided this week. It is hoped that additional terminal building enhancements can be completed before the end of the year.


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For further information contact Jarlath Feeney (086) 2308899 (091) 755569
Peter O’Mara (086) 8594038 (091) 755569