Ireland West Airport Knock planning to expand particular facility

This year promises to be a momentous one for Ireland West Airport as it celebrates its 40-year anniversary.

2025 was the busiest year on record at the airport, with passenger numbers reaching 946,381 for the first time in its history, surpassing the previous record of 834,000 passengers set in 2024. This 13.5% increase made it Ireland’s fastest-growing airport last year.

2026 will be a milestone year for the airport, as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of its official opening in May. The passenger growth forecast remains positive, with the airport expecting another record year in 2026, with annual passenger numbers expected to exceed 950,000 for the first time.

“We were expecting growth but we were not expecting it to be so strong, “ Ireland West Airport Managing Director Joe Gilmore told the Western People. “We were 10% up on the UK market last year and 28% up on European flights,” he added.

The airport’s sky-high passenger numbers are now soaring close to the one million mark.

“We are still looking at further growth, whether we hit the million mark or not remains to be seen,” said Mr Gilmore.

While this will be an amazing milestone if achieved, there is currently a one million passenger cap for funding under the State’s Regional Airports Programme.

A new iteration of that support structure, running to 2030, will be soon published by the Department of Transport. Ireland West Airport is keeping a keen eye on these plans and is actively engaged with Government on funding should passenger figures surpass a million.

“There is an issue there around the funding under the Regional Airports Programme,” said Mr Gilmore.

There has been engagement to extend the funding envelope to three million passengers with Shannon Airport also involved in this lobbying effort.

“Funding is crucial for an airport of our scale. We do get good support from Government on the capital side of things in particular. Last year we spent close to €8 million here on various capital projects and we secured around €5.5 million of that funding from Government. Without that we would be in a very difficult place in terms of the capital requirements. Government is aware of that and are working with us on it,” said Mr Gilmore.

The managing director is fully aware of the changing dynamic that can face regional airports.

“We have gone though ash clouds, financial crisis, Covid. While we do plan three or five years ahead you don’t really what the real situation can turn out like.”

Mr Gilmore said more people than ever are tuned into the benefits of Ireland West Airport.

“People like the product we have here. We provide a good service to passengers and word has got out there that we are a really user-friendly airport. Our catchment has increased and we are attracting more and more customers from Galway, the Midlands, and up around the Border region.”

A continued climb in demand for travel post-Covid has also aided the airport.

“People are taking more short-breaks, going to sports events, and there is a lifestyle change for people too,” said Mr Gilmore.

There was news recently that Texan oil billionaire Kelcy Warren is behind a €30 million investment into Waterford Airport.

Waterford City and County Council approved the private investment in October following a long-running bid for public funding to lengthen the airport’s runway to allow it attract commercial airlines.

The development has piqued interest at Ireland West Airport, with Mr Gilmore stating that private investment will always be examined.

“If there are investors out there who wish to get involved in a piece of infrastructure like this, we will be delighted to speak to them,” said Mr Gilmore. “The challenge is that airports of this scale are not significantly profitable at the passenger numbers levels we are at. As an investment instrument for private investment, one would need to take a much longer term view than many in the investment funds tend to take,” he added.

Mr Gilmore said the airport is seeking investors for the strategic development zone (SDZ) landbank connected to Ireland West.

“There is 30 available sites within that land bank with full planning. That is ripe for private investment.”

With the airport busier than ever, additional car parking capacity will be provided as part of an overall expansion programme.

“We added additional car parking facility and there are now plans in place to expand significantly the current parking capacity,” said Mr Gilmore.

It is four decades since Monsignor Horan’s vision for a “foggy, boggy hill,” came to fruition and the airport will be marking this landmark during the year.

There will be a gala concert event on May 28 which will focus on the lifetime of the airport and its rich history. An event in London is also being planned to celebrate the diaspora’s impact on Ireland West Airport.

“Over the 40 years we have had about 16 million people using the airport and half of those travelled from the London market alone. That has really been what’s made the airport and kept it afloat,” said Mr Gilmore.

The airport’s charity efforts will continue this year.

In December, the airport was delighted to present a cheque for a record €54,000 to six staff-nominated charities for 2025. Connacht SBHI Branch (Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus), Dillon Quirke Foundation, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Order of Malta (Knock Branch), The National Breast Cancer Research Institute, and Western Alzheimers each received a cheque worth €9,000. Airport employees selected them as part of the company’s Charities of the Year programme for 2025.

Mr Gilmore paid tribute to the airport’s staff, passengers, local politicians and stakeholders for their hard work and support.

“We want to thank them for ensuring the airport continues to be a success and funded.”