Irish airports handled 50,265 tonnes of air freight in the first quarter of 2026, a 15 per cent increase on the same period in 2025, according to the Central Statistics Office. International freight rose by around 20 per cent to 47,225 tonnes, and Shannon grew from 3,542 to 5,443 tonnes. Flights rose 12 per cent over the same period, adding scheduled capacity. Behind every tonne that flies sits a ground-side chain of road transportation, warehousing, and handling that Irish operators are well placed to serve.

Irish logistics and transport operators who invest in certified handling, airport-adjacent warehousing, and time-critical road feeder services will capture a growing share of this activity. The opportunity is commercial rather than speculative: the volumes are published, the direction is clear, and the capabilities required are within reach of established freight operators. Those who prepare now can agree partnerships and certification timelines before volumes grow further.

Dublin handled 44,819 tonnes, around 89 per cent of the national total, with arrivals of 24,991 tonnes and departures of 19,828 tonnes. Shannon's volumes rose by more than half year on year. National freight traffic, at 3,040 tonnes, is small, which confirms the opportunity lies in international supply chains where reliability and documentation matter most. Balanced inbound and outbound flows allow feeder fleets and warehousing to work in both directions, improving operational efficiency for operators who plan collection and delivery as a single network.

Pharmaceutical products account for 53 per cent of Irish goods exports, according to Goodbody and IPHA, with 2025 exports of €139 billion, which places temperature-controlled air freight at the centre of Irish trade. Air Cargo Week explains that IATA's CEIV Pharma framework consolidates requirements, including Good Distribution Practice, into one auditable certification. The wider CEIV programme counts around 699 certified companies, with reported renewal rates near 99 per cent.

Dublin already has precedent. DHL's Dublin airfreight station achieved CEIV Pharma certification in 2017, and Air Cargo Week describes airport communities and pharma corridors as an ecosystem linking airlines, handlers, forwarders, and regulators. That ecosystem gives road operators a natural route in, because certified partners increasingly look for ground-side providers who share their standards. IATA has also introduced scaled versions of the programme for SMEs, which supports smaller Irish operators.

Three actions merit prioritisation. Operators should review their transport management and fleet management capability for time-critical airport collection and delivery, including temperature-controlled vehicles and documented chain of custody. Organisations should assess warehousing within reach of Dublin and Shannon, and explore CEIV-aligned training with forwarders and handlers already certified. Boards should include air freight in supply chain management and distribution planning, agreeing feeder partnerships with certified forwarders and handlers ahead of further volume growth.

Ireland's air freight volumes are rising, and the ground-side opportunity is open to operators who prepare. Those who build certified, well-located, and reliable capability will strengthen their position in procurement with forwarders and pharmaceutical shippers, and share in the growth of Irish air cargo as exporters continue to value speed, reliability, and documented quality.