A €200 million capital development plan aimed at transforming Cork Airport over the next decade has been unveiled, with work already underway on several key infrastructure projects designed to support growing passenger numbers.
The ambitious plan, launched today by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, outlines a vision to expand Cork Airport’s capacity to five million passengers annually within eight years. The announcement comes on the back of a record-breaking year for the airport, which handled 3.1 million passengers in 2024 — the highest in its history for international traffic.
This figure marks a 50% increase over the past decade. The airport, the second-busiest in the Republic of Ireland and the fastest-growing, expects to welcome 3.4 million passengers this year.
The capital development plan includes the construction of a new mezzanine floor and upgraded security screening area, an expanded duty-free shop and executive lounge, additional boarding gates, extended car parks, and the demolition of the old terminal and control tower to make way for a new pier and more aircraft parking stands.
A 1.7-megawatt solar farm is also planned to power a fifth of the airport’s energy needs. Positioned over an existing car park, the solar array is expected to be operational by late summer 2026. Planning permission for the project has already been submitted.
Speaking at the launch, Taoiseach Micheál Martin hailed the development as vital for regional and national connectivity. “Cork Airport has become a critical component of our national transport infrastructure and, as Ireland’s fastest-growing airport, its continued development is paramount,” he said.
Daa Chief Executive Kenny Jacobs said the investment reflects projected population growth in the south of the country and will help ensure the airport remains a key regional economic engine. “We’re all in on this exciting journey to help the airport and the region grow and develop into the future,” he said.
Cork Airport Managing Director Niall MacCarthy added that the improvements are designed with passengers in mind. “We offer easy, friendly, no-stress travel,” he said. “This is a magic formula for passenger satisfaction, and we are planning pro-actively for the next six to ten years.”
The airport currently contributes more than €1 billion annually to the southern economy and supports over 12,000 jobs.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer both praised the project, citing it as evidence of continued government and daa support for regional connectivity and economic growth.
