It was announced today that Dublin Airport has set a new record as a gateway to Northern Ireland for overseas visitors last year, as an estimated 1 million overseas residents used Dublin Airport to travel to and from Northern Ireland during 2015.
 
The significant increase in passengers from Northern Ireland choosing to use Dublin Airport was due in part to a further expanded route network with 23 new services and extra capacity on 40 existing routes at Dublin Airport last year.
 
Half of Northern Ireland residents used Dublin Airport for holiday trips last year, with 26% flying from Dublin on their main holiday and a further 24% using Dublin for an extra holiday. Business travel accounted for 11% of trips and 20% of passengers were visiting friends or relatives.
 
Three quarters of all passengers from Northern Ireland take a direct flight from Dublin to their final destination with about one-quarter making onward connections at another airport. 
 
London Heathrow was the most popular destination for Northern Ireland residents using Dublin Airport last year, followed by New York’s JFK, Dubai, Brussels, and Paris Charles De Gaulle. Short-haul services from Dublin to Britain and to continental Europe accounted for 8 of the top 10 routes for Northern Ireland consumers last year.

The UK continues to be the most popular country destination for Northern Ireland passengers using Dublin Airport followed by the United States, Spain, Germany and France. (Reuters)

Dublin Airport’s Chief Communications Officer, Paul O’Kane said, "Passengers from Northern Ireland love the choice, convenience and value that Dublin Airport offers with its extensive long-haul and short-haul route network and high frequency connections to a huge number of destinations."

Source: www.businessworld.ie