Dublin Airport Terminal 1 originally opened in 1972 and was built to handle an annual throughput of around 5 million passengers. A lot has changed since then, with plenty of expansion leading up to the unveiling of a lavish new terminal in 2010.
Terminal 1 is a fully up to date facility with all of the amenities and passengers facilities expected from an airport of this magnitude. Arriving passengers disembark and enter the terminal on the ground floor. The floor above hosts the check-in desks and departure area. Above this is the Mezzanine Food Court, which is only open to ticketed passengers who have passed through security. The Loop shopping area is also in the mix, so passengers have no need to take the covered walkway to T2 for the retail or dining offerings.
Since the advent of Terminal 2, the original terminal has been reserved for short-haul flights across the region and greater Europe. Ryanair is the biggest tenant in Terminal 1 today, operating dozens of routes to famous holiday destinations across Europe.
Getting to and from the Terminal is a breeze, whether you’re travelling by car, taxi or bus. The terminal has its own dedicated short-term car park, and it shares long-term facilities with T2. On the approach, signs indicate the route to Terminal 1, which is separate from the T2 route.