KNOCK AIRPORT had its busiest ever year in 2011, according to the airport’s latest figures.

Traffic increased by 65,000 passengers (or 11 per cent) last year on 2010′s figures to 654,500 passengers in total. The airport began operating in 1986.

Ireland West Airport Knock managing director Joe Gilmore said the organisation was “delighted” with its record year.

In a statement, the airport says it expects challenging conditions in 2012 as ongoing economic issues continue to influence people’s travel plans.

It adds that it is optimistic that a number of new routes to and from the airport will help boost its figures for next year. The airport recently announced new services to Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt with Lufthansa and Ryanair.

Joe Gilmore said that the airport is looking ahead to a challenging year and hoping to have the support of “key stakeholders”:

We look forward to welcoming the thousands of European tourists to the West and North West of Ireland but more than ever we need the support of the trade and in particular key stakeholders at regional and national level as these new services will require even greater effort on all our behalf to ensure they are a success and are maintained for the longer term.