What Ireland West Airport does

Ireland West Airport is a privately operated regional international airport located in Charlestown, County Mayo, Ireland, and is Ireland's fourth-largest airport by passenger volume. It is operated by Connaught Airport Development Company (CADCO) Ltd., owned 82.5% by the Horan Airport Trust and 17.5% by seven regional local authorities (Donegal, Galway City, Galway County, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo). Founded in 1986 through a community-led initiative by Monsignor James Horan, the airport serves as the primary international gateway for the West, North West, and Midland regions of Ireland, with a 2,340-metre runway equipped with a Category II instrument landing system, modern apron facilities, and a transformation programme investing in LED airfield ground lighting, electric ground operations vehicles, upgraded IRVR equipment, and a planned 1.2MW solar farm.

The business generates revenue through a diversified mix of streams. Aeronautical income derives from a €10 development fee charged to all departing passengers aged 12 and over, airline landing and parking charges, and a corporate aviation offering (landing fees at €6.00 per metric tonne with a €175 annual landing card option). Non-aeronautical revenue includes online pre-booked parking (up to 20% discount), ShopWest duty-free for UK and Canary Islands travellers, an executive lounge (Club West), the Sláinte barista café and meeting room (capacity up to 30), airport advertising (digital screens, video walls, billboards reaching over 1 million annual visitors), and special assistance services anchored by a solar-powered Aviramp step-free boarding ramp.

The airport's go-to-market is multi-channel: airline partnerships with Ryanair (40-year relationship), Aer Lingus (daily London Heathrow), and Lauda Europe drive scheduled traffic to 21 international destinations; tour operators such as BBI Travel operate chartered capacity (e.g., the 2025 Groningen service); direct-to-consumer marketing runs through the website, MailChimp newsletters, and social media; and dedicated corporate aviation sales serve FBO operators, executive jet companies, and handling agents. In 2025 the airport recorded 946,381 passengers — a record — supported regional economic activity of €182m and an annual GVA contribution of €17m, and has committed €30m+ of capital projects through 2028 across safety, security, and sustainability infrastructure.

Name

Ireland West Airport

Legal name

Connaught Airport Development Company Ltd.

Website

https://irelandwestairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ireland West Airport is Ireland's fourth-largest regional international airport, serving the West and North West of Ireland with 21 routes via Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and Lauda Europe. Operated by CADCO under Horan Airport Trust and seven local authority shareholders, it carried 946,381 passengers in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Airport Operations

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ground Handling (Ramp, Baggage, Turnaround) (THABAIAC), Airport Retail (Duty-Free & Specialty) (THABALAC)

Keywords

• Regional airport operations
• Passenger aviation services
• Airport parking management
• Corporate aviation handling
• Airport retail advertising

Headquarters

HQ city

Mayo

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Passenger Development Fee: A Development Fee of €10 charged to all departing passengers aged 12 and over as a service charge for use of facilities and contribution toward infrastructure development including terminal facilities, safety, security, and passenger services.
2. Parking Services: Revenue from on-airport car parking facilities including pre-booked and flexible parking options. The airport offers online booking with competitive rates and up to 20% discount for online bookings.
3. Retail and Duty-Free: Revenue from Shopwest retail outlets and duty-free shopping for passengers traveling to UK and Canary Islands, including restaurants and cafes.
4. Lounge Services: Revenue from Executive Lounge access, available for pre-booking with amenities for passengers seeking premium experience.
5. Corporate Aviation Fees: Landing charges (€6.00 per metric tonne MTOW with minimum €20, or €175 annual landing card) and aircraft parking fees based on MTOW weight categories for private jet and corporate aviation services.
6. Airport Advertising: Revenue from digital advertising platforms including state-of-the-art digital screens, video walls, billboards, and trolley advertising throughout the airport reaching over 1 million annual visitors.
7. Meeting Room Hire: Revenue from Sláinte meeting room hire with capacity up to 30 people, featuring state-of-the-art equipment in aviation-themed environment, including complimentary car parking.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ireland West Airport operates a regional international airport providing scheduled passenger flights to 21 destinations across the UK and Europe via airline partners Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and Lauda Europe. The airport sells ancillary passenger services including on-site parking, Executive Lounge access, ShopWest duty-free retail, Sláinte Barista Café, special assistance services, and Sláinte Meeting Room hire. It also provides corporate aviation handling, landing and parking charges for private aircraft, advertising on digital screens and billboards, and infrastructure access to airlines under regulated fee structures.

Product overview

Ireland West Airport operates as a regional international airport offering a comprehensive portfolio of passenger and ancillary services. The core offering centres on flight operations including departures/arrivals information for 21 international destinations served by Aer Lingus, Ryanair, and Lauda Europe. Supporting services include online parking pre-booking with up to 20% discounts, Executive Lounge access, ShopWest duty-free retail for UK/Canary Islands travellers, Sláinte Barista Café with runway views, and special assistance for passengers with reduced mobility. The airport also provides corporate aviation services with VIP facilities, meeting room hire (Sláinte Meeting Room up to 30 people), and airport advertising solutions. Community engagement is delivered through the annual Charity of the Year programme, the 5K Runway Run, and Bumper Summer Draw. The airport is undergoing a Transformation Programme investing in sustainability infrastructure including a PV Solar Farm.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airport Parking Convenient short-term and long-term parking facilities at the airport with online pre-booking offering up to 20% discount. Available as Best Value (non-refundable) or Flexible (cancellation option) packages.
• Executive Lounge (Club West) Premium lounge offering comfortable seating, complimentary refreshments, and exclusive services open 7 days a week from 08:00-17:30 with a 3-hour maximum stay. Pre-bookable online.
• ShopWest Duty Free Duty-free retail shopping for passengers travelling to the UK and Canary Islands, offering perfumes, cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco, and souvenirs.
• Sláinte Barista Café Airport café offering freshly made coffee and refreshments with panoramic views of the runway, featuring a video wall and memorabilia displays about airport history.
• Special Assistance Services Support services for passengers with reduced mobility or special requirements, including assistance through security and boarding processes, using the solar-powered Aviramp for step-free aircraft boarding.
• Corporate Aviation Services Business and private aviation services including aircraft landing (€6.00 per metric tonne MTOW, minimum €20, or €175 annual landing card), tiered aircraft parking by weight, refuelling, customs clearance, and dedicated ground handling for corporate jets and private aircraft.
• Sláinte Meeting Room Hire Meeting room venue for hire with capacity up to 30 people, featuring wireless presentation screen, high-speed wi-fi, power outlets, flip charts, delegate stationery, complimentary car parking, and panoramic runway views.
• Airport Advertising Advertising solutions including state-of-the-art digital screens, video walls, billboards, and trolley advertising reaching over 1 million annual visitors. Sold directly to brands and agencies.
• Charity of the Year Programme Annual fundraising initiative supporting up to six local and national charities through events including the Charity 5K Runway Run on the airport runway, Bumper Summer Draw, and Online Bingo.
• Wi-Fi Services Free wireless internet access available throughout the airport terminal for all passengers and visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 946,381 passengers in 2025 - record year with 13.5% increase over 2024
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AvirampminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026Aviramp, a Telford-based Shropshire manufacturer, won a contract to supply a solar-powered step-free aircraft boarding ramp to Ireland West Airport. The ramp provides accessibility for wheelchair users, passengers with reduced mobility, and parents with prams. Aviramp reports over 950 ramps in use globally and plans to pursue further contracts in the Irish market.
• RyanaircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRyanair is the primary airline partner operating the most routes from Ireland West Airport. The airline recorded its busiest-ever year at the airport with services to Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Luton, Manchester, Faro, and Malaga. The Liverpool service celebrated its 1 millionth passenger in 2024. Partnership spans 40 years as of 2026.
• Aer LinguscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAer Lingus operates daily London Heathrow service from the airport, recording over 96,000 passengers in 2025 - its busiest ever year at the airport. Provides key UK connectivity as a major international airline.
• Lauda EuropecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLauda Europe is one of three major European airlines operating scheduled services from Ireland West Airport, providing connectivity to European destinations.
• BBI TravelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBBI Travel is a leading Dutch tour operator that organized a new weekly charter service from Groningen, Netherlands for summer 2025. Specializing in Ireland travel packages since 1963, BBI provides complete travel packages including flights, overnight stays, and car rental.
• Emerald AirlinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmerald Airlines operated the Groningen charter service for 13 weeks between June and August 2025, providing the only direct air access from the Netherlands to the West of Ireland for summer 2025.
• PortwestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPortwest is the annual sponsor of the Charity 5km Runway Family Fun Run event. The sponsorship enables the airport to raise funds for its six charity partners through this unique event held on the runway.
• Atkins RéalisminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAtkins Réalis contributed to the airport's Level 3 Airport Carbon Accreditation achievement through their global sustainability and environmental expertise, supporting the airport's journey to net zero.
• Airport Councils International (ACI)coreOthersACI operates the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, the global standard for carbon management and emission reductions at airports. Ireland West Airport achieved Level 3 'Optimisation' accreditation through this programme, which has endorsements from EU and UN agencies including ICAO and UNFCCC.
• Tourism IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism Ireland conducts research showing that 40% of Dutch visitors to Ireland visit the West, Northwest and Midlands regions. The airport collaborates with Tourism Ireland to support new routes and promote tourism to the West of Ireland.
• 2025 Charity Partners (Connacht SBHI, Dillon Quirke Foundation, NBCRI, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Western Alzheimers, Order of Malta)minorOthersSix charity partners for 2025: Connacht Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus, Dillon Quirke Foundation, National Breast Cancer Research Institute, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Western Alzheimers, and Order of Malta (Knock Branch). Record €54,000 raised through various fundraising initiatives including Runway Run and Bingo events.
• 2026 Charity Partners (Cancer Care West, Family Centre Castlebar, Liver Ireland Support Network, Mayo Mental Health Association, Pancreatic Cancer Ireland, Sunflower Children's Hospice)minorOthersSix charity partners for 2026: Cancer Care West, Family Centre Castlebar, Liver Ireland Support Network, Mayo Mental Health Association, Pancreatic Cancer Ireland, and Sunflower Children's Hospice. Fundraising through Bumper Summer Draw and other events.
• Sligo Chamber SkillnetminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSligo Chamber Skillnet provided staff training programmes including disability and diversity awareness, management development, sales, technical specializations, and digitalization training. The partnership helped the airport win the Skillnet Regional Excellence Award.
• Connaught Airport Development Company (CADCO)coreOthersCADCO Ltd is the private company responsible for day-to-day operation of Ireland West Airport. Shareholding is a Partnership between Horan Airport Trust (82.5%) and seven local authorities (17.5%).

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Irelandwest

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ireland West Airport