New figures published this month show Dublin Airport experienced a 13% increase in passenger numbers during the first half of 2016, the Belfast Telegraph reports. This growth has translated into an additional 1.5 million travellers passing through its doors, and if the growth continues then Dublin Airport is set to break the previous yearly record of 25 million passengers in 2015. So what are the reasons for this expansion, and with a growth in demand, is further development on the cards in the form of more Dublin Airport car parking and other facilities?
New Passengers for New Dublin Airport Routes
So far this year Dublin Airport has added two new routes to its offerings. These include a new service to Athens from Aegean Airlines and a new route to the Cypriot capital of Larnaca from Cobalt. But this isn’t the end of Dublin Airport route expansion for 2016 – later this year will also see Dutch airline KLM return to Dublin with its Amsterdam service, one that has previously only flown from Belfast City Airport. In regards to new long haul services, Aer Lingus is set to open up two new connections to the US later this year, to Newark and Hartford in Connecticut. The benefits of this gradual route expansion are already being felt, with transatlantic passenger number showing an increase of 19% on the first half of 2016. UK traffic is also up by 13%, and with these new routes due later on in the year, growth doesn’t look like it is due to slow down any time soon.
Managing Director Vincent Harrison has stated “The outlook for the rest of the year remains positive, with 2015 on course to surpass last year which was the busiest in the airport’s history.”
“Dublin Airport has reached a significant milestone recently, welcoming 100,000 passengers in a single day for the first time ever.”
Moves Towards Future Expansion with More Dublin Airport Car Parking?
With this increase in demand comes new calls for expansion. Whether this means development of more services such as shops and more parking at Dublin Airport remains to be seen, but the recent success has renewed calls for a second runway. The plans are currently under review with Fingal County Council and they will be looking at issues such as whether conditions imposed on the current planning permission will affect the runway’s efficiency and operability, and whether there would be additional benefits if a longer runway were considered.
An Easier Way to Book Parking at Dublin Airport
With more and more travellers looking for an easier way to get to their departure point as well as their international destinations, many UK and Ireland airports are now offering customers more cost effective and stress-free ways of pre-booking their parking facilities. Using the Parking at Airports booking widget lets passengers organise their cheap Dublin Airport parking with a reputable service whilst securing an additional 12% off the already excellent value price. So with more Dublin Airport car parking booking facilities available, will this mean more of a demand for cheap Dublin Airport parking and therefore more expansion in this area too?
If a runway at Dublin Airport does indeed get the go ahead by authorities, then passenger numbers look set to increase by an even greater extent. It seems fair to assume that facilities including parking at Dublin Airport and more transport links will be set for their own reviews in the future, meaning even greater choice for Dublin Airport users for many years to come.