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Methodology Previous Releases
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

May 2021

         
Direction201920202021 Change
MayMayAprMay MonthlyAnnual Biennial
  '000 %
Arrivals1,818.928.369.485.423.0%202.1%-95.3%
Departures1,851.636.373.097.0 32.9%167.2%-94.8%

One overseas traveller for every twenty pre-pandemic

go to full release

In May 2021 there were 85,400 overseas passenger arrivals and 97,000 overseas passenger departures. These compare with 69,400 arrivals and 73,000 departures in April 2021, increases of 23.0% and 32.9% respectively. Overseas travel in May 2021 increased nearly threefold compared to May 2020, when there were 28,300 arrivals and 36,300 departures. However, for every overseas traveller in May 2021, there were 20 in pre-pandemic May 2019, when there were 1,818,900 arrivals and 1,851,600 departures.

Of the 85,400 persons arriving in Ireland in May 2021, 85.7% (73,200) arrived by air and 14.3% (12,200) arrived by sea. Of the 97,000 persons departing Ireland, 84.9% (82,400) departed by air and 15.1% (14,600) departed by sea (See Tables 1A and 1B).

The continental route accounted for most passenger traffic, with 53.1% of arrivals (45,400) and 54.5% of departures (52,900). The cross-channel route was next busiest, with 38.0% of arrivals (32,400) and 37.1% of departures (36,000). The transatlantic route saw just 5.7% of arrivals (4,900) and 4.7% of departures (4,500) (See Tables 2A and 2B).

However, in terms of specific routing countries for travelling directly to Ireland, Great Britain proved most important, accounting for 32,400 arrivals and 36,000 departures. The Netherlands was the second most important routing country, with 8,200 arrivals and 9,100 departures. Poland was third most important with 6,500 arrivals and 7,800 departures.

For the year-to-date (January-May), 379,100 persons arrived in Ireland from overseas and 408,400 persons departed. This compares with 3,129,600 arrivals and 3,099,300 departures in the same period in 2020, and 7,398,200 arrivals and 7,427,300 departures in the same period in 2019.

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 were previously presented in the monthly Overseas Travel release, are no longer collected and that release is indefinitely suspended. To help fill the data gap, the CSO is publishing this 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 (Cork and Dublin airports), together with data from other airports and sea ferry operators. The CSO will continue publishing this Air and Sea Travel Statistics release for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.

 

X-axis labelArrivalsDepartures
Cross-Channel32.436
Continental45.452.9
Transatlantic4.94.5
Other2.73.6
Table 1A: Overseas arrivals by year, month and mode000's
ModeYearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
               
Air20191,174.61,142.41,400.51,596.91,712.01,823.72,017.72,033.61,764.41,646.31,305.11,290.418,907.5
20201,195.21,171.7603.612.119.940.2188.1311.6224.0142.590.9135.94,135.7
2021101.150.555.161.473.2       341.3
               
Sea201938.644.965.4116.0106.8117.4208.1222.9106.780.846.382.21,236.2
202039.943.431.34.08.416.939.251.030.418.512.928.5324.5
20216.94.36.38.012.2       37.8
               
All20191,213.21,187.31,465.91,712.91,818.91,941.12,225.92,256.51,871.11,727.11,351.41,372.620,143.7
20201,235.11,215.1635.016.128.357.1227.3362.6254.4160.9103.9164.44,460.2
2021108.054.861.469.485.4       379.1
Table 1B: Overseas departures by year, month and mode000's
ModeYearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
               
Air20191,169.31,139.11,375.41,622.61,744.01,933.42,006.91,967.51,757.41,660.11,279.11,320.218,975.1
20201,183.51,161.9575.612.824.753.1239.0275.5203.5143.785.1156.14,114.7
2021104.146.757.561.582.4       352.3
               
Sea201952.342.061.3113.8107.5147.5177.0224.3111.879.849.363.51,230.3
202056.341.426.54.911.620.836.452.733.219.611.722.8338.0
202114.66.58.911.514.6       56.1
               
All20191,221.61,181.11,436.61,736.41,851.62,081.02,183.92,191.91,869.31,739.91,328.41,383.820,205.3
20201,239.81,203.3602.117.836.373.9275.4328.2236.7163.396.8178.84,452.6
2021118.753.266.573.097.0       408.4
Table 2A: Overseas arrivals by year, month and route000's
RouteYearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
               
Cross-Channel2019493.1528.2611.9664.6669.9646.7803.2803.7610.7631.4573.7622.97,660.1
2020499.9534.2273.19.316.432.397.1112.677.056.438.865.11,812.3
202115.113.217.521.632.4       99.9
               
Continental2019571.1537.7663.6826.6871.5985.41,114.41,119.4960.4864.3599.8568.79,683.0
2020586.9553.9271.93.58.218.3114.8228.7158.391.054.779.12,169.5
202179.531.634.840.145.4       231.4
               
Transatlantic201998.483.4143.3171.9225.7250.5238.1254.4239.2181.0133.8135.92,155.6
2020100.587.859.91.21.73.88.811.69.85.64.711.7307.0
20214.92.12.83.34.9       18.0
               
Other201950.737.947.149.851.758.570.178.960.850.444.145.2645.1
202047.839.229.92.12.02.76.69.79.27.95.78.5171.4
20218.47.96.34.42.7       29.8
               
All20191,213.21,187.31,465.91,712.91,818.91,941.12,225.92,256.51,871.11,727.11,351.41,372.620,143.7
20201,235.11,215.1635.016.128.357.1227.3362.6254.4160.9103.9164.44,460.2
2021108.054.861.469.485.4       379.1
Table 2B: Overseas departures by year, month and route000's
RouteYearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
               
Cross-Channel2019540.4527.2603.1665.2653.5706.1734.4801.0650.5640.0580.3568.97,670.5
2020547.1530.0258.98.818.736.882.8125.493.562.539.654.81,858.9
202136.717.220.428.036.0       138.3
               
Continental2019528.7534.3656.3847.6942.21,063.51,107.11,059.1930.4831.4579.1636.19,715.8
2020540.7550.7258.97.314.633.3182.4186.0129.387.947.1107.12,145.2
202164.627.836.637.352.9       219.2
               
Transatlantic2019103.382.5137.0175.3208.0246.3268.8259.8232.1209.8130.7131.02,184.7
2020104.786.262.20.51.72.54.67.86.65.94.77.9295.1
20218.62.22.73.34.5       21.4
               
Other201949.237.140.248.447.865.073.571.856.358.738.347.8634.3
202047.436.422.21.21.31.35.69.07.47.15.39.1153.3
20218.85.96.74.43.6       29.5
               
All20191,221.61,181.11,436.61,736.41,851.62,081.02,183.92,191.91,869.31,739.91,328.41,383.820,205.3
20201,239.81,203.3602.117.836.373.9275.4328.2236.7163.396.8178.84,452.6
2021118.753.266.573.097.0       408.4
Table 3A: Overseas arrivals by year, month and routing country000's
Routing countryYearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
               
Great Britain2019491.80526.80610.20661.70666.70642.50798.20799.00607.60629.70572.20621.207,627.70
2020498.70532.60272.309.3016.4032.3097.10112.6077.0056.4038.8065.101,808.70
202115.1013.2017.5021.6032.40       99.90
               
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey20191.301.401.702.803.204.205.004.703.001.801.601.7032.40
20201.201.500.800.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.003.60
20210.000.000.000.000.00       0.00
               
Belgium201919.3020.0023.3022.1021.1019.7021.8020.0019.5022.3021.6021.50252.10
202019.2019.708.300.100.300.602.702.401.801.500.902.2059.80
20211.000.400.500.400.00       2.30
               
Germany201982.5081.80104.30116.80113.40113.50126.20126.10114.40107.3083.2086.901,256.30
202076.9075.7036.100.601.403.909.8017.0012.307.002.505.50248.70
20215.001.802.303.203.40       15.70
               
Spain2019121.30107.50137.20195.90215.40267.50292.90301.90244.70224.30127.7099.302,335.50
2020119.50110.1067.600.000.100.9023.0033.6019.0013.7012.0013.10412.60
202114.705.605.906.306.80       39.30
               
France201964.7062.8087.80114.60107.40128.40160.40151.20111.5094.0063.8063.701,210.30
202066.8064.2032.600.601.403.0013.2022.0014.407.703.808.70238.40
20219.804.705.104.001.50       25.00
               
Italy201940.2043.9048.6065.7070.4086.10101.2099.6084.8074.4049.7041.60806.10
202047.2043.805.600.000.000.406.9027.3022.406.601.602.10163.90
20213.201.101.400.800.80       7.20
               
Netherlands201956.2054.9063.1063.7062.3061.9070.1064.4062.0064.4060.9057.70741.50
202057.2056.9027.201.202.704.409.4013.0012.208.908.6014.70216.20
20219.205.205.207.308.20       35.10
               
Poland201944.5035.6040.1043.1044.2040.2043.0045.7043.0044.8042.9045.00512.10
202049.6041.3019.100.100.100.4012.7031.7019.6013.508.1011.20207.40
202111.303.804.504.706.50       30.80
               
Portugal201922.4020.2026.1061.1075.0082.1092.5095.6086.9068.1029.1023.40682.50
202028.4025.8015.800.200.701.507.4013.0011.706.604.705.40121.10
20216.301.401.301.902.80       13.70
               
Other EU201987.3079.4094.60104.00120.00139.80156.70161.90146.80124.0092.50100.201,407.30
202090.6084.5043.600.501.202.4024.8060.5040.6022.5011.4013.50396.10
202114.706.006.9010.3013.30       51.30
               
Switzerland201917.3016.9020.5022.2022.1023.3028.1026.7023.4021.6013.4015.80251.20
202018.0017.908.300.000.000.502.502.901.500.700.201.5054.10
20211.200.100.200.500.70       2.70
               
Other Europe201915.5014.7018.0017.5020.2023.1021.4026.3023.5019.1015.1013.80228.20
202013.6014.007.900.000.300.302.305.403.002.300.801.2051.10
20213.001.601.500.701.40       8.20
               
United States201990.5076.90133.00154.50199.10214.70199.70214.90200.40157.80124.70125.701,891.70
202092.5080.9054.401.101.703.708.1010.008.605.104.0010.00280.20
20214.102.002.703.304.90       16.90
               
Other Transatlantic20197.906.5010.4017.5026.6035.8038.5039.5038.8023.109.1010.20263.80
20208.006.905.500.000.000.000.701.501.200.500.701.7026.90
20210.900.200.000.000.00       1.10
               
United Arab Emirates201929.0021.2026.3025.9024.3028.5033.6037.0028.5022.5025.3028.80330.90
202028.5024.5019.000.100.100.903.602.702.601.902.104.6090.60
20213.904.101.800.700.70       11.20
               
Other Routes201921.7016.7020.8023.8027.4030.0036.5042.0032.3027.8018.8016.40314.20
202019.3014.7010.902.101.901.903.007.006.706.003.603.8080.80
20214.603.904.503.702.00       18.60
               
All20191,213.201,187.301,465.901,712.901,818.901,941.102,225.902,256.501,871.101,727.101,351.401,372.6020,143.70
20201,235.101,215.10635.0016.1028.3057.10227.30362.60254.40160.90103.90164.404,460.20
2021108.0054.8061.4069.4085.40       379.10
Table 3B: Overseas departures by year, month and routing country000's
Routing countryYearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
               
Great Britain2019538.9525.8601.5662.0649.6702.1729.7796.3647.3638.2578.7567.37,637.4
2020545.7528.4257.98.818.736.882.8125.493.562.539.654.81,855.0
202136.717.220.428.036.0       138.3
               
Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey20191.51.41.73.14.04.04.74.73.21.71.61.633.1
20201.41.61.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.03.9
20210.00.00.00.00.0       0.0
               
Belgium201919.319.423.221.521.420.520.420.219.421.722.721.1250.9
202019.219.28.80.20.71.32.52.51.71.30.82.060.1
20211.40.40.60.50.0       2.8
               
Germany201979.177.9102.2113.5114.5123.5125.8120.1114.6112.086.291.71,261.0
202074.572.740.21.22.16.613.113.710.87.82.36.2251.1
20214.91.22.22.24.0       14.4
               
Spain2019105.5109.9138.2209.2237.6279.0295.5273.9243.8208.1110.4123.52,334.5
2020101.7113.850.60.10.42.338.522.817.715.99.719.2392.7
202111.74.35.85.07.3       34.1
               
France201960.460.685.7112.3122.9150.5146.4152.0106.588.067.169.01,221.4
202063.663.134.21.43.45.720.117.710.77.63.211.0241.7
20218.14.35.34.14.1       25.9
               
Italy201936.543.647.869.078.988.698.496.284.268.145.747.7804.8
202042.742.55.80.10.41.214.723.318.65.71.13.8159.9
20212.01.11.50.91.0       6.5
               
Netherlands201957.454.662.561.365.067.164.266.961.065.361.357.3743.8
202058.455.026.52.04.16.29.412.710.38.38.515.3216.6
20218.44.55.86.19.1       33.8
               
Poland201938.335.939.644.845.044.446.242.440.445.041.752.4516.0
202042.741.719.30.40.10.623.823.917.613.46.417.2207.1
20217.14.24.64.77.8       28.5
               
Portugal201919.021.027.367.583.188.994.685.784.561.624.728.9686.8
202023.026.813.50.21.12.811.29.79.06.54.08.1115.9
20214.51.01.72.33.6       13.1
               
Other EU201981.980.393.0110.9131.2151.6164.2150.5132.2119.891.2110.51,417.2
202084.584.544.11.31.74.942.153.329.519.010.019.5394.5
202112.75.58.010.413.6       50.2
               
Switzerland201917.716.919.920.122.125.226.327.723.322.014.117.1252.3
202018.517.97.80.00.01.22.52.71.40.70.21.754.6
20211.80.20.20.30.7       3.1
               
Other Europe201913.614.217.117.520.524.225.323.820.619.714.016.9227.2
202011.813.48.00.20.70.54.63.72.01.90.73.250.7
20212.11.11.00.91.7       6.8
               
United States201995.475.8126.4158.4181.3208.2227.6220.0195.7183.1121.2120.51,913.3
202096.479.554.60.51.72.44.06.95.95.24.16.3267.7
20217.22.02.73.34.5       19.7
               
Other Transatlantic20197.96.710.616.926.738.141.339.936.426.79.610.5271.4
20208.36.77.60.00.00.00.50.80.60.70.71.527.4
20211.40.20.10.00.0       1.7
               
United Arab Emirates201928.420.822.024.519.732.533.935.027.630.223.029.4327.0
202029.922.713.70.00.00.21.13.21.51.92.35.281.7
20214.62.41.81.21.1       11.1
               
Other Routes201920.816.318.323.828.132.639.636.928.828.515.318.4307.3
202017.413.78.41.21.31.24.55.85.95.23.13.971.6
20214.23.54.93.22.5       18.4
               
All20191,221.61,181.11,436.61,736.41,851.62,081.02,183.92,191.91,869.31,739.91,328.41,383.820,205.3
20201,239.81,203.3602.117.836.373.9275.4328.2236.7163.396.8178.84,452.6
2021118.753.266.573.097.0       408.4

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 are all people disembarking at the airports in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Knock, Shannon or Waterford or the seaports in Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Ringaskiddy or Rosslare from destinations not on the island of Ireland. Transfer passengers are included while domestic air passengers and cruise passengers are excluded.

(2) Departures

The same definition is used for departures, but refers to people embarking for destinations not on the island of Ireland.

(3) Mode

Mode refers to the method of travel – air or sea. Air refers to all people who arrive or depart by commercial airliners (excluding the crew), while sea covers arrivals or departures by commercial passenger vessels, (excluding the crew and commercial drivers).

(4) Route

For convenience, all people 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. These refer to the country of departure for the flight or sea crossing for an arriving person, or the country of arrival for a person who departs. The country does not refer to the country of residence or country of origin or destination for the person travelling (this information was previously published in the ‘Overseas Travel’ releases). For example, a person who flies from John F Kennedy airport (United States of America) to Heathrow (Great Britain) and then to Ireland will be counted as arriving from Great Britain, as this is where their flight 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  2 
Apr 31 38 57 66 86 130 157 171   0   3 
May 39 54 75 89 105 144 161 179   1   4 
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 18 

Source: daa

There were 4,000 transfer passengers handled by Dublin Airport in May 2021. This compares to 1,000 in May 2020, an increase of 338%.

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