The Astonishing Numbers of Dublin Airport in 2024
In 2024, Dublin Airport saw record passengers, 1.5M pints of Guinness, 2.5M cups of tea and coffee, and 19K lost items.
Passengers at Dublin Airport enjoyed a hearty start to their journeys in 2024, with an average of one full Irish breakfast consumed every minute, according to year-end data released by DAA, the airport's operator.
To complement these breakfasts, passengers sipped over 2.5 million cups of tea and coffee throughout the year—equating to a fresh cup being served every 12 seconds.
The airport’s bars were equally bustling, pouring more than 1.5 million pints of Guinness for travellers. On the snack front, Tayto crisps proved to be the ultimate crowd-pleaser, with over half a million packets sold. Chocolate enthusiasts indulged in 72 tonnes of Toblerone, a staggering figure comparable to the weight of 72 family cars.
2024: A Year of Records
Dublin Airport experienced its busiest year to date, with record-breaking passenger numbers reported for each of the first 11 months. Full-year passenger statistics are set to be released in January, but over 171 days in 2024 saw more than 100,000 passengers passing through the terminals.
Marking its 85th anniversary in January 2025, Dublin Airport has come a long way since its opening in 1940, when it was designed to handle just 100,000 passengers annually.
Memorable Moments and Lost Property
Graeme McQueen, DAA's Media Relations Manager, shared some of the year’s highlights, including the 550 wedding and engagement rings handed into the airport’s lost and found department—100 of which remain unclaimed. One peculiar find stood out: a golf bag with a full set of clubs abandoned on Departures Road. “We thought perhaps someone had a bad round and decided to quit the game, but they returned a few days later to retrieve it,” McQueen joked.
In total, nearly 19,000 items were handed in to lost and found in 2024, with 56% successfully reunited with their owners. Among the most commonly misplaced items were:
- Bags and luggage
- Passports or national ID cards
- Mobile phones
- Keys
- Laptops
- Rings
- Sunglasses
- Driver’s licenses
- Reading glasses
- Toys
Enhancing Passenger Experience
Passengers rated their experiences at Dublin Airport at an all-time high this year, thanks to numerous upgrades in both terminals. New food and drink options, including Supermac’s and Fruitality in Terminal 2 and a revamped Butler’s Cafe in Terminal 1, have been met with enthusiasm. The addition of Grafton Barber in Terminal 1 and the innovative Drop & Go parking service have also proven popular.
“The great news is, we’re not stopping there,” McQueen said. “More improvements are on the way in 2025, including exciting new food and drink outlets, which we’ll be announcing soon.”
Dublin Airport’s record-breaking year reflects not only its growing passenger base but also its commitment to enhancing the travel experience for all who pass through its doors.
