Copyright ittn
AirHelp, the leading travel tech company supporting passengers with flight disruptions, reveals that more than 3.8 million Irish passengers suffered from disruptions when travelling on a plane between July and September this year – a staggering 39% increase compared to the last quarter. During this period, 84,000 flights were scheduled, with more than 12.7 million people planning a trip. AirHelp’s data shows that approximately 30% of travellers experienced disruptions. Whilst most Irish passengers faced delays under three hours, meaning they were not eligible for financial compensation, over 108,000 people had the right to make a claim with their airline. In addition, over 158,000 travellers had their trips cancelled altogether – more than double the number recorded between April and June. Dublin Airport was Ireland’s busiest airport between July and September, with 5.3 million departing passengers. In terms of punctuality, Kerry County Airport recorded the highest disruption rates at 40%, impacting just under 32,000 travellers. In contrast, Donegal Airport stood out as the most punctual, with only 16% of passengers experiencing disruptions during this period. The top travel destinations for Irish passengers were the United Kingdom, with 1.8 million travellers between July and September. This is closely followed by 965,000 people travelling to Spain and 730,000 passengers taking transatlantic trips to the United States. Among Irish airport routes with over 20,000 passengers, some of the highest disruption rates were recorded on flights from Dublin Airport. The route to Bucharest Otopeni Airport in Romania topped the list, with over 57% of passengers affected by delays or cancellations. Other poorly performing routes included flights to Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport in Milan and Dyce Airport in Aberdeen, with more than 51% of travellers impacted. On the other hand, the most fortunate passengers were those who travelled from Cork Airport to Faro Airport in Portugal and London Heathrow, with 91% of the flights departing on time between July and September. This is closely followed by routes from Dublin Airport to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and San Francisco International Airport, both achieving impressive on-time departure rates of 89%. “We continue to see a sharp increase in flight disruptions across the UK, with millions of passengers affected by delays and cancellations. While some airports and routes have maintained strong on-time performance, others continue to face operational challenges. Our data underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability within the industry, and we remain committed to helping passengers understand their rights and secure the compensation they are entitled to,” concludes Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp.
