TheJournal.ie uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more »
Dublin: 12 °C Wednesday 22 May, 2013
Trending:
RSS

Tags

See other tags

Tags

GALLERY: The 10 airports Irish people fly to most often

Visa Europe has been crunching the stats on travel bookings – and compiled this list of the ten most regular destinations.

20/08/12 14,780 Views 14 Comments

AS AN ISLAND nation, it’s not all that surprising that Irish people tend to be among the world’s most prolific air travellers.

But which airports are the Irish most likely to fly to when they’re going abroad – and why?

Visa Europe has been crunching data scraped from debit and credit card transactions so far this year and come up with this list of the ten airport that you’re most likely to find an Irish person flying to.

Visa suggests the popularity of the Premier League, the Six Nations and the Heineken Cup may have had a role in the bookings – and we think they’re probably right.

GALLERY: The 10 airports Irish people fly to most often
1 / 10

  • 10 - Alicante

    Alicante Airport serves the Costa Blanca region, a popular holiday spot for sun-seeking Irish travellers. Flights booked, Jan 1-July 3: 11,496. (Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramoncutanda/6052377753/)

  • 9 - Charles de Gaulle, Paris

    Charles de Gaulle often serves as a transit point onward - while rugby fans' travels to TWO different Six Nations fixtures probably also contributed to the 11,919 flight bookings. (Michel Euler/AP)

  • 8 - Edinburgh

    Trips to Scotland are always popular for Irish people, while Ulster's away trip in the Heineken Cup semi-final may also have contributed to the 12,057 bookings. (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

  • 7 - Birmingham

    A stable and central destination in Britain's midlands, also home to a large Irish population. Flights booked: 15,092.

  • 6 - Manchester

    The strong Irish support for both Manchester United and Manchester City means there are always plenty of Irish popping over and back to Lancashire. There were 16,757 visits booked in the first six months of the year. (Eamonn and James Clarke/EMPICS Entertainment)

  • 5 - Faro

    Faro airport in Portugal is the main budget carrier for the Algarve region, meaning it's always among the most popular holiday getaway spots for Irish travellers. 21,041 flights booked in the first half of 2012. (Luis Miguel Ferreira/AP)

  • 4 - London Stansted

    The most prominent of London's three airports from the point of view of Ryanair, which is the airline preferred by more Irish jetsetters. The Olympics will no doubt have helped the 23,050 bookings. (Chris Radburn/PA Wire)

  • 3 - Malaga

    The fact that Malaga's airport is actually called 'Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport' probably tells you everything you need to know. In fact, after Madrid, Barcelona and Mallorca, it's Spain's busiest airport - with 28,661 bookings from Irish people alone so far this year. (Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dahowlett/3681103864/)

  • 2 - London Gatwick

    The south London airport is another venue favoured by Ryanair, and gives quick access to London Victoria and beyond. A new terminal was opened there last year. 30,641 journeys so far this year. (Gareth Fuller/PA Archive)

  • 1 - London Heathrow

    The airport used by Ireland's Olympic team and, no doubt, many of its supporters. Heathrow is also a major hub for onward international travel, as well as being London's busiest airport and one of the busiest in the world. 33,200 journeys booked between January 1 and July 3. (Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
  • Alicante Airport serves the Costa Blanca region, a popular holiday spot for sun-seeking Irish travellers. Flights booked, Jan 1-July 3: 11,496. (Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramoncutanda/6052377753/)
  • Charles de Gaulle often serves as a transit point onward - while rugby fans' travels to TWO different Six Nations fixtures probably also contributed to the 11,919 flight bookings. (Michel Euler/AP)
  • Trips to Scotland are always popular for Irish people, while Ulster's away trip in the Heineken Cup semi-final may also have contributed to the 12,057 bookings. (Danny Lawson/PA Wire)
  • A stable and central destination in Britain's midlands, also home to a large Irish population. Flights booked: 15,092.
  • The strong Irish support for both Manchester United and Manchester City means there are always plenty of Irish popping over and back to Lancashire. There were 16,757 visits booked in the first six months of the year. (Eamonn and James Clarke/EMPICS Entertainment)
  • Faro airport in Portugal is the main budget carrier for the Algarve region, meaning it's always among the most popular holiday getaway spots for Irish travellers. 21,041 flights booked in the first half of 2012. (Luis Miguel Ferreira/AP)
  • The most prominent of London's three airports from the point of view of Ryanair, which is the airline preferred by more Irish jetsetters. The Olympics will no doubt have helped the 23,050 bookings. (Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
  • The fact that Malaga's airport is actually called 'Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport' probably tells you everything you need to know. In fact, after Madrid, Barcelona and Mallorca, it's Spain's busiest airport - with 28,661 bookings from Irish people alone so far this year. (Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dahowlett/3681103864/)
  • The south London airport is another venue favoured by Ryanair, and gives quick access to London Victoria and beyond. A new terminal was opened there last year. 30,641 journeys so far this year. (Gareth Fuller/PA Archive)
  • The airport used by Ireland's Olympic team and, no doubt, many of its supporters. Heathrow is also a major hub for onward international travel, as well as being London's busiest airport and one of the busiest in the world. 33,200 journeys booked between January 1 and July 3. (Steve Parsons/PA Wire)

In photos: What has US airport security confiscated this week?

About the author:

Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
gavan@thejournal.ie

Contribute to this story:

Leave a Comment
Send a Photo / Video
Send a Tip
Send a Correction

Read next:

Comments (14 Comments)

Ordered By: Popularity
Leave a comment

Add New Comment

Read Next:

Top 10 tips for healthy living during exams Stress and Worry

Most Popular Today

TheJournal.ie
1
Cost of Grafton Street’s €4 million regeneration questioned
10,781  83
2
Gardaí turn back on the goodwill tap
10,418  36
3
Noonan: Mortgage interest rates must increase to ensure profit for taxpayers
11,409  106
Business ETC
1
Aer Arann buys €144 million worth of aircraft and announces 50 jobs
7,981  31
2
Finally: The inventor of the GIF explains how to pronounce it
2,896  16
3
Burger King returns to 100% Irish beef
7,818  26
TheScore.ie
1
The Derry GAA jersey with Joe Brolly’s ‘Opt For Life’ campaign slogan
10,073  17
2
No doubt about it now as Chris Robshaw revealed as 1st Lions stand-by
2,923  5
3
The text that sums up everything we love about junior football
6,231  1
DailyEdge.ie
1
This 17 year old died on Monday but what he left is inspirational
1,491  1
2
Never forget: the time Colin Farrell was into line dancing
918  0
3
Alan Shatter: Minister for Sex
1,011  5

Trending Tags

CONFIDENTIAL
Communications between Callinan and Shatter are ‘of a confidential nature’
Communications between Callinan and Shatter are ‘of a confidential nature’
800,000 calls to Childline in 2012 – but 34 per cent unanswered
No concerns for Samaritans confidentiality under Children First bill
CROKE PARK II
Gardaí turn back on the goodwill tap
Gardaí turn back on the goodwill tap
Doctors and teachers reveal details of revised Croke Park 2 plans
Howlin: ‘Public servants have given a huge amount but this is the last ask’
OIREACHTAS
Timetable for abortion legislation is ‘tight’
Timetable for abortion legislation is ‘tight’
6 interesting moments from the final day of the Oireachtas abortion hearings
As it happened: Final day of the Oireachtas hearings on planned abortion laws
HEALTH
13 things we learned from the CSO’s new ‘quality of life’ data
13 things we learned from the CSO’s new ‘quality of life’ data
Which county has the lowest disposable income per person?
Iodine deficiency during pregnancy could adversely affect children’s mental development
APPLE
Taoiseach says Ireland does not give special tax deals
Taoiseach says Ireland does not give special tax deals
Poll: Should Ireland be tougher on multi-national companies when it comes to tax?
US Senate: Irish tax havens are leaving US children without education
ABORTION
The 5 at 5: Wednesday
The 5 at 5: Wednesday
Column: I’m a mother of a special needs child and a pro-choice advocate
Column: Changing the law on abortion is dangerous and unjust

About Us

Follow Us

Corrections

Policies

Content copyright © Journal Media Ltd. 2013 Registered in Dublin, registration number: 483623. Registered office: 3rd floor, Latin Hall, Golden Lane, Dublin 8.

Please note that TheJournal.ie uses cookies to improve your experience and to provide services and advertising. For more information on cookies please refer to our cookies policy.

News images provided by Press Association and Photocall Ireland unless otherwise stated. Irish sport images provided by Inpho Photography unless otherwise stated. Wire service provided by Associated Press.

Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for user created content, posts, comments, submissions or preferences. Users are reminded that they are fully responsible for their own created content and their own posts, comments and submissions and fully and effectively warrant and indemnify Journal Media in relation to such content and their ability to make such content, posts, comments and submissions available. Journal Media does not control and is not responsible for the content of external websites.

Switch to Mobile Site

Sites: TheJournal.ie | BusinessETC.ie | TheScore.ie | DailyEdge.ie | Boards.ie | Adverts.ie | Daft.ie