The number of passengers passing through Dublin Airport rose by more than 15 per cent in the first half of the year, new figures have shown.
Almost 11.5 million passengers used the airport in the six-month period, adding an extra 1.5 million to the tally, the DAA said.
The rise compares with the European average of 4.5 per cent during the same period and puts Ireland fourth in its peer group behind Athens, which saw a 23.5 per cent rise, London Stansted at almost 17 per cent and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen at 16.6 per cent.
"Our passenger numbers have grown very strongly in the first six months of this year, and we're outperforming almost all of our European peers," said Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison.
He attributed the growth to an increase in seat capacity on existing routes, and the addition of 22 new services to the airport.
Although the highest volume came from Continental Europe routes, Britain continued to contribute strongly to Dublin Airport’s figures, while there was a record number of transatlantic and transfer passengers during the six-month period.
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce said the rise was validation of the airport’s standing as an international hub, and called for the Government to ensure that existing levels of connectivity are maintained and to encourage new routes into the future.
"Dublin Airport is a vital piece of national infrastructure, with four out of every five overseas visitors who arrive to Ireland by air come through it," said Dublin Chamber chief executive Gina Quin. "A well-connected Dublin Airport is fundamental to a buoyant tourism sector and also to Ireland being seen as a location for inward foreign direct investment."
The data from airport trade organisation ACI Europe also showed traffic at EU airports rose by 5.1 per cent, with aircraft movements rising by 2 per cent across Europe.
