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International comparison:
For more information on this release:
E-mail: tourism@cso.ie Gregg Patrick James Mahon
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Air and Sea Travel Statistics

February 2021

000's
DirectionFebruary January - February
20202021Change 20202021Change
Arrivals1,215.154.8-1,160.3-95.5% 2,450.2162.8-2,287.4-93.4%
Departures1,203.353.2-1,150.1-95.6% 2,443.1171.9-2,271.2-93.0%

Overseas travel falls in February

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Overseas travel to and from Ireland decreased in February 2021 (See Figure 1). In February 2021 there were 54,800 overseas passenger arrivals and 53,200 overseas passenger departures (See Table 1). These compare with 108,000 arrivals and 118,700 departures in January 2021, decreases of 49.2% and 55.2% respectively (See Tables 2A and 2B). Overseas travel in February 2021 remained considerably lower than in February 2020, when there were 1,215,100 arrivals and 1,203,300 departures, falls of 95.5% and 95.6% respectively (See Table 1).

Of the 54,800 persons arriving in Ireland in February 2021, 50,500 (92.1%) arrived by air and 4,300 (7.9%) arrived by sea. Of the 53,200 persons departing Ireland, 46,700 (87.9%) departed by air and 6,500 (12.1%) departed by sea (See Table 1).

Of those arriving in Ireland, 13,200 (24.0%) came by cross-channel routes, 31,600 (57.6%) by continental routes, 2,100 (3.8%) by transatlantic routes and 7,900 (14.5%) by other overseas routes. The corresponding figures for those departing Ireland were 17,200 (32.4%), 27,800 (52.3%), 2,200 (4.2%) and 5,900 (11.1%) respectively (See Table 1).

The most important routing countries for persons travelling overseas to Ireland were Great Britain (13,200), Spain (5,600) and the Netherlands (5,200). The most important routing countries for persons travelling overseas from Ireland were Great Britain (17,200), the Netherlands (4,500), Spain and France (both 4,300) (See Table 1 and Figure 2).

For the year-to-date (January-February), 162,800 persons arrived in Ireland from overseas and 171,900 persons departed. These represent decreases of 93.4% and 93.0% respectively compared to 2020 (See Table 3).

The collection of Tourism Statistics at air and sea ports was suspended in March 2020, to protect CSO enumerators and the travelling public. As a result, the details of travel to Ireland classified by country of residence, which are presented in the monthly Overseas Travel release, are not currently being collected and that release has been temporarily suspended. To help fill the data gap, the CSO is publishing this new Air and Sea Travel Statistics release which reports on the numbers of overseas travellers arriving and departing Ireland classified by travel route. The information is compiled primarily from statistics provided by the DAA, together with data from other air and sea ports. The CSO intends to continue publishing this Air and Sea Travel Statistics release for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.

 

X-axis labelDeparturesArrivals
Great Britain17.213.2
Belgium0.40.4
Germany1.21.8
Spain4.35.6
France4.34.7
Italy1.11.1
Netherlands4.55.2
Poland4.23.8
Portugal11.4
Other EU275.56
Switzerland0.20.1
Other Europe1.11.6
United States22
Other Transatlantic0.20.2
United Arab Emirates2.44.1
Other Destinations3.53.9
Table 1: Overseas arrivals and departures by mode and route, February 2020 and 2021000's
CategoryFebruary
Arrivals Departures
20202021Change 20202021Change
          
Mode         
Air1,171.750.5-1,121.2-95.7% 1,161.946.7-1,115.2-96.0%
Sea43.44.3-39.1-90.1% 41.46.5-34.9-84.4%
          
Route         
Great Britain532.613.2-519.5-97.5% 528.417.2-511.2-96.7%
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey1.50.0-1.5-99.5% 1.60.0-1.6-99.6%
Cross-Channel534.213.2-521.0-97.5% 530.017.2-512.8-96.7%
          
Belgium19.70.4-19.3-97.7% 19.20.4-18.8-97.8%
Germany75.71.8-74.0-97.7% 72.71.2-71.5-98.3%
Spain110.15.6-104.5-94.9% 113.84.3-109.5-96.2%
France64.24.7-59.6-92.7% 63.14.3-58.8-93.2%
Italy43.81.1-42.7-97.6% 42.51.1-41.4-97.4%
Netherlands56.95.2-51.8-90.9% 55.04.5-50.5-91.9%
Poland41.33.8-37.5-90.9% 41.74.2-37.4-89.8%
Portugal25.81.4-24.4-94.6% 26.81.0-25.9-96.3%
Other EU2784.56.0-78.5-92.9% 84.55.5-79.1-93.5%
EU27 Total522.029.9-492.1-94.3% 519.426.5-492.9-94.9%
          
Switzerland17.90.1-17.8-99.2% 17.90.2-17.7-99.1%
Other Europe14.01.6-12.4-88.5% 13.41.1-12.3-91.8%
Continental553.931.6-522.3-94.3% 550.727.8-522.9-95.0%
          
United States80.92.0-78.9-97.6% 79.52.0-77.5-97.5%
Other Transatlantic6.90.2-6.8-97.8% 6.70.2-6.5-96.7%
Transatlantic87.82.1-85.7-97.6% 86.22.2-83.9-97.4%
          
United Arab Emirates24.54.1-20.4-83.3% 22.72.4-20.4-89.5%
Other Destinations14.73.9-10.9-73.7% 13.73.5-10.1-74.2%
Other Routes39.27.9-31.2-79.7% 36.45.9-30.5-83.7%
          
All1,215.154.8-1,160.3-95.5% 1,203.353.2-1,150.1-95.6%
Table 2A: Overseas arrivals by month, mode and route, February 2020 - February 2021000's
             
CategoryFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFeb
2020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020212021
Mode          
Air1,171.7603.612.119.940.2188.1311.6224.0142.590.9135.9101.150.5
Sea43.431.34.08.416.939.251.030.418.512.928.56.94.3
              
Route             
Great Britain532.6272.39.316.432.397.1112.677.056.438.865.115.113.2
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey1.50.80.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
Cross-Channel534.2273.19.316.432.397.1112.677.056.438.865.115.113.2
       .  .  
Belgium19.78.30.10.30.62.72.41.81.50.92.21.00.4
Germany75.736.10.61.43.99.817.012.37.02.55.65.01.8
Spain110.167.60.00.10.923.033.619.013.712.013.114.75.6
France64.232.60.61.43.013.222.014.47.73.88.79.84.7
Italy43.85.60.00.00.46.927.322.46.61.62.13.21.1
Netherlands56.927.21.22.74.49.413.012.28.98.614.79.25.2
Poland41.319.10.10.10.412.731.719.613.58.111.211.33.8
Portugal25.815.80.20.71.57.413.011.76.64.75.46.31.4
Other EU2784.543.60.51.22.424.860.540.622.511.413.514.76.0
EU27 Total522.0255.83.47.917.4110.0220.5153.988.053.676.475.329.9
         .    
Switzerland17.98.30.00.00.52.52.91.50.70.21.51.20.1
Other Europe14.07.90.00.30.32.35.43.02.30.81.23.01.6
Continental553.9271.93.58.218.3114.8228.7158.391.054.779.179.531.6
              
United States80.954.41.11.73.78.110.18.65.14.010.04.12.0
Other Transatlantic6.95.50.00.00.00.71.51.20.50.71.70.90.2
Transatlantic87.859.91.21.73.88.811.69.85.64.711.74.92.1
              
United Arab Emirates24.519.00.10.10.93.62.72.61.92.14.63.94.1
Other Destinations14.710.92.11.91.93.07.06.76.03.63.84.63.9
Other Routes39.229.92.12.02.76.69.79.27.95.78.58.47.9
        .. .  
All1,215.1635.016.128.357.1227.3362.6254.4160.9103.9164.4108.054.8
Table 2B: Overseas departures by month, mode and route, February 2020 - February 2021000's
             
CategoryFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFeb
2020202020202020202020202020202020202020202020212021
Mode          
Air1,161.9575.612.824.753.1239.0275.5203.5143.785.1156.1104.146.7
Sea41.426.54.911.620.836.452.733.219.611.722.814.66.5
              
Route             
Great Britain528.4257.98.818.736.882.8125.493.562.539.654.836.717.2
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey1.61.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
Cross-Channel530.0258.98.818.736.882.8125.493.562.539.654.836.717.2
       .  .  
Belgium19.28.80.20.71.32.52.51.71.30.82.01.40.4
Germany72.740.21.22.16.613.113.710.87.82.36.24.91.2
Spain113.850.60.10.42.338.522.817.715.99.719.211.74.3
France63.134.21.43.45.720.117.710.77.63.211.08.14.3
Italy42.55.80.10.41.214.723.318.65.71.13.82.01.1
Netherlands55.026.52.04.16.29.412.710.38.38.515.38.44.5
Poland41.719.30.40.10.623.823.917.613.46.417.27.14.2
Portugal26.813.50.21.12.811.29.79.06.54.08.14.51.0
Other EU2784.544.11.31.74.942.153.329.519.010.019.512.75.5
EU27 Total519.4243.07.013.931.6175.3179.6125.885.346.2102.360.826.5
         .    
Switzerland17.97.80.00.01.22.52.71.40.70.21.71.80.2
Other Europe13.48.00.20.70.54.63.72.01.90.73.22.11.1
Continental550.7258.97.314.633.3182.4186.0129.387.947.1107.164.627.8
              
United States79.554.60.51.72.44.16.95.95.24.16.37.22.0
Other Transatlantic6.77.60.00.00.00.50.80.60.70.71.51.40.2
Transatlantic86.262.20.51.72.54.67.86.65.94.77.98.62.2
              
United Arab Emirates22.713.70.00.00.21.13.21.51.92.35.24.62.4
Other Destinations13.78.41.21.31.24.55.85.95.23.13.94.23.5
Other Routes36.422.21.21.31.35.69.07.47.15.39.18.85.9
        .. .  
All1,203.3602.117.836.373.9275.4328.2236.7163.396.8178.8118.753.2
Table 3: Overseas arrivals and departures by mode and route, January - February 2020 and 2021000's
    January - February   
 Arrivals Departures
20202021Change 20202021Change
          
Mode         
Air2,366.9151.6-2,215.3-93.6% 2,345.5150.8-2,194.6-93.6%
Sea83.311.2-72.1-86.5% 97.721.1-76.6-78.4%
          
Route         
Great Britain1,031.428.3-1,003.1-97.3% 1,074.253.9-1,020.2-95.0%
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey2.70.0-2.7-99.7% 2.90.0-2.9-99.8%
Cross-Channel1,034.128.3-1,005.8-97.3% 1,077.153.9-1,023.2-95.0%
          
Belgium39.01.4-37.5-96.3% 38.41.8-36.6-95.3%
Germany152.66.8-145.9-95.6% 147.26.1-141.1-95.9%
Spain229.620.3-209.2-91.1% 215.616.0-199.6-92.6%
France131.014.4-116.5-89.0% 126.712.4-114.3-90.2%
Italy91.04.3-86.8-95.3% 85.33.1-82.1-96.3%
Netherlands114.114.4-99.8-87.4% 113.412.9-100.5-88.7%
Poland90.815.1-75.7-83.4% 84.411.4-73.0-86.5%
Portugal54.17.7-46.4-85.7% 49.95.5-44.4-89.0%
Other EU27175.120.7-154.4-88.2% 169.118.2-150.9-89.3%
EU27 Total1,077.4105.1-972.2-90.2% 1,029.887.3-942.5-91.5%
          
Switzerland35.91.4-34.5-96.1% 36.41.9-34.4-94.6%
Other Europe27.54.6-22.9-83.3% 25.23.2-22.0-87.4%
Continental1,140.8111.1-1,029.7-90.3% 1,091.492.4-999.0-91.5%
          
United States173.46.0-167.4-96.5% 175.99.2-166.7-94.8%
Other Transatlantic14.91.0-13.9-93.1% 15.01.6-13.4-89.1%
Transatlantic188.37.0-181.3-96.3% 190.810.8-180.0-94.3%
          
United Arab Emirates53.08.0-45.0-85.0% 52.77.0-45.7-86.7%
Other Destinations34.08.4-25.6-75.2% 31.17.8-23.3-75.1%
Other Routes87.016.4-70.6-81.2% 83.814.7-69.0-82.4%
          
All2,450.2162.8-2,287.4-93.4% 2,443.1171.9-2,271.2-93.0%

Background Notes

Periodicity:

Monthly.

Scope

Overseas Travel.

Coverage

This release covers overseas travel into and out of the Republic of Ireland. Cross-border travel and domestic travel within the Republic of Ireland are excluded.

Data Collection

This release is based on administrative data provided by Irish airports and passenger data provided by the sea carrier companies operating ferries to and from Ireland.

Rounding

Individual figures have been rounded independently and the sum of the component items may therefore not necessarily add to the totals shown.

Reliability of Results 

As the statistics in this release are reproduced directly from administrative data they are considered reliable.

Comparability 

As the statistics in this release are persons arriving and departing, they are not directly comparable with the previous Overseas Travel release, which reported the number of overseas trips. In addition, the previous Overseas Travel series specifically excluded residents of Northern Ireland. No country of residence information is available for the compilation of these Air and Sea Travel statistics, so all countries of residence are necessarily included.

Coherence 

The statistics in this release are not fully coherent with separate Transport aviation and maritime statistical series published by the CSO. The Air and Sea Travel statistics exclude domestic air travel and flights to Northern Ireland. The Air and Sea Travel statistics also exclude commercial drivers on sea routes.

Definitions

(1) Arrivals

Arrivals comprise all persons disembarking at Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Knock, Shannon or Waterford airports, or Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Ringaskiddy or Rosslare seaports, from international destinations (excluding Northern Ireland). Transfer passengers are included. Domestic air passengers are excluded. Cruise passengers are excluded.

(2) Departures

Departures have the same scope as arrivals except that they refer to persons embarking for international destinations.

(3) Mode

Mode is the means of travel. Only two modes are available; air and sea. Air refers to all persons who arrive or depart by commercial airliners (crew excluded). Sea refers to all persons who arrive or depart by commercial passenger vessels (crew and commercial drivers excluded).

(4) Route

For convenience, all persons arriving or departing overseas are allocated to one of four entry or exit routes. These are Cross-Channel (Great Britain, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands), continental (other European countries), Transatlantic (North & South America, including the Caribbean) and Other (Asia, Africa, Oceania, etc.).

(5) Country

All routes are broken down into separate countries and country groupings. It is important to note that these are the countries that arriving persons immediately departed from before entering Ireland, or departing persons immediately arrive in, after leaving Ireland. They do not refer to the country of residence of arriving or departing persons (unlike previous Overseas Travel releases, where this information was published). Nor do they refer to the country of origin or destination of the persons travelling. For example, if a person flies from John F Kennedy airport (United States) to Heathrow (Great Britain) and then to Ireland, that person will be categorised as arriving from Great Britain, as this was where their flight stage to Ireland originated.

(6) Transfer Passengers

Transfer passengers or 'connecting passengers' are defined as those who make a stop at an airport without any particular purpose other than being en route to another destination.  Transfer passengers disembark from their aircraft and pass through the airport en route to their connecting flight.  The two flights must be booked on the same ticket for it to be considered a transfer. A transfer trip is a completed journey – for example a passenger who travels from London Gatwick to Dublin Airport and then on to New York (on the one ticket) is counted as two transfer passengers and one transfer trip.

Dublin Transfer Passengers (000's)

Month 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Jan 20 28 31 35 55 79 88 108 111 5
Feb 15 19 18 22 33 59 67 76 79 4
Mar 18 20 25 30 51 85 94 126 53  
Apr 31 38 57 66 86 130 157 171   0   
May 39 54 75 89 105 144 161 179   1   
Jun 51 72 96 110 119 157 185 186   3   
Jul 43 66 96 127 121 158 199 195   9   
Aug 47 82 109 142 139 194 229 223 13   
Sep 34 50 78 102 124 158 191 194 11   
Oct 33 46 72 91 142 160 187 186   7   
Nov 34 33 42 61 84 118 136 141   4   
Dec 37 41 51 74 107 128 155 155   7   
Year 402 548 749 949 1,167 1,569 1,850 1,939  297  

Source: daa

In February 2021 there were 4,000 transfer passengers handled by Dublin Airport. This compares to 79,000 in February 2020, a decrease of 94%.

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