Dublin Airport handled 3.34 million passengers in September, matching last year’s figure and capping its busiest summer on record, according to statistics published by industry outlet Routes on 15 October. Almost 15 million travellers passed through the two terminals between May and September, up 4 % on the same period in 2025. Transfer traffic was the stand-out performer, surging 37 % year-on-year as the airport positions itself as a one-stop hub between North America and Europe. Management highlighted golf tourism, Ireland’s rotating EU Presidency and the return of student and corporate travel as additional tailwinds. The most-flown routes in September were London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Manchester, Málaga and London Gatwick. To protect that momentum, operator daa confirmed it will file revised plans this week to enlarge the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) pre-clearance facility in Terminal 2. An extra storey and redesigned passenger circulation space will raise hourly processing capacity by roughly one-third, while preparing the building to meet Ireland’s new Zero Emission Building standard. Approval has already been granted in principle; the amendment seeks to incorporate a fixed passenger bridge to Pier 4 and larger queuing areas. For business travellers, US pre-clearance is a competitive advantage: arriving in the United States as a domestic passenger shaves at least 30 minutes off post-flight formalities and allows tight onward connections. Airlines such as Delta and American have long argued that limited space at the existing facility constrains growth on high-yield Dublin–US routes. Construction is scheduled to begin after the 2027 peak season, avoiding short-term disruption. daa says the works will be sequenced so that CBP continues operating throughout. Companies moving staff between North America and Ireland should nevertheless monitor schedule changes once contractors mobilise.
Source: Routesonline
