Dublin Airport has just opened a new center for transfer passengers who are using the Irish city as a gateway to Europe and the Americas, a business that’s been growing rapidly.
The airport’s transfer traffic has grown from 550,000 passengers in 2013 to 1.6 million last year, and this year is already 17% higher than last. Dublin has been able to grab a good chunk of that business because it’s geographically well-placed between Europe and North America, and also because it has a U.S. pre-clearance station that checks passengers before boarding so they do not have to clear customs and immigration in the U.S.
Also, Aer Lingus, now owned by British Air’s parent, has been expanding its route footprint in the U.S., and Dublin has also become an important base for Norwegian’s routes. The two, and Air Canada, have added 391,000 seats for trans-Atlantic flights this year alone.
In addition to the new transfer center, the airport has added new gates, and in January will begin building an additional runway that will greatly expand the airport’s capacity. With other traditional connecting airports such as Amsterdam Schiphol and London Heathrow under traffic limitations, Dublin sees a big opportunity.
