Cork Airport crowned best regional airport in Europe

The management and staff of Cork Airport, which has been named Best Airport in Europe (under 5 million passengers) at the 2025 ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards in Athens. Picture: David Creedon

Maeve McTaggart

Cork Airport was crowned the best regional airport in Europe for the third time during the aviation trade associations’ prestigious annual congress in Athens.

The fastest-growing airport in Ireland was named the best airport in Europe that serves under five million passengers at the Airport Council International (ACI) Europe Best Airport Awards.

It previously won the award in the 2017 and 2019, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin describing the accolade as a “prestigious honour”.

“This recognition is thoroughly deserved. The airport team has worked tirelessly to enhance operational efficiency, offer exceptional passenger experience, and deliver on ambitious environmental and sustainability goals,” said ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec.

"Their success is clearly reflected in increased air connectivity and passenger numbers which means a growing contribution from the airport to the regional economy, tourism and competitiveness."

The airport recently added four new routes to Corfu, Izmir, Bilbao and Bordeaux, with passenger numbers on track to reach beyond 3.4 million passengers this year.

It welcomed 3.2 million passengers last year, a 10pc growth year-on-year.

A €200 million investment by the DAA Group in the development of infrastructure at the airport plans to include a new mezzanine floor for an expanded security area, a larger duty-free shop, a bigger executive lounge, additional car park spaces, more boarding gates, new aircraft stands, and a new pier.

Cork Airport’s Managing Director Niall MacCarthy said the award is “a fantastic endorsement of the incredible people who make Cork Airport what it is—from our frontline teams to those behind-the-scenes, and everyone in between”.

"It’s also a reflection of the strong partnerships we’ve built with all our stakeholders, and the loyalty of our passengers who continue to choose Cork Airport. We’re immensely proud to win this award for the third time and we’re committed to continuing to grow our contribution to the south of Ireland.”

Meanwhile, Kenny Jacobs, the CEO of DAA, said the award is “a huge recognition of the brilliant team on the ground who deliver for passengers every single day”.

"This award’s not just for the airport - it’s for Cork, for Munster, and for Ireland. We have big plans for Cork, and this is a great boost.”