A new passenger record has been set at Dublin airport.

23.5 million people have traveled through the airport so far this year, beating the previous record of 23.4 set in 2008 at the height of the boom.

The DAA says the new record has been achieved ahead of the Christmas rush - one of the busiest times of the year.

Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison says 

“Passenger numbers are up 16% so far this year, with record numbers of people travelling to and from Dublin on European, UK, transatlantic and other international routes,” Mr Harrison added. “We have already welcomed more than 3.1 million extra passengers this year and we still have most of December to come.”

Five new long-haul services were launched at Dublin Airport this year and 18 new short-haul routes also commenced operations. The new routes that have opened include Aer Lingus services to Washington, Liverpool and Nantes, Ryanair services to Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Lublin, Ethiopian Airlines services to Los Angeles and Addis Ababa, and new flights to Reykjavik, Barcelona and Paris Orly with WOW Air, Vueling and Transavia respectively.

During the summer months of July and August a massive 5.3 million passengers traveled through Dublin Airport.

Dublin Airport,  is celebrating its 75 birthday this year. The airport has direct flights to about 170 scheduled and charter destinations.