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NOCEIKN

Ireland West Airport Knock Airport

Knock, IE

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NOCEIKNNormal

Ireland West Airport

Knock, Ireland · Europe

Ireland West is an easy one-terminal international airport whose real limit is the rural drive and a single modest lounge.

Airportist Score

6.0/ 10

Mixed

Ease of use7.4
Comfort & amenities6.0
Food & retail5.4
Ground access5.0
Reliability5.8
Lounges5.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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NOCEIKNNormal

Ireland West Airport

Knock, Ireland · Europe

Ireland West is an easy one-terminal international airport whose real limit is the rural drive and a single modest lounge.

Airportist Score

6.0/ 10

Mixed

Ease of use7.4
Comfort & amenities6.0
Food & retail5.4
Ground access5.0
Reliability5.8
Lounges5.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare NOC with another airport

Fastest to city
Charlestown is 3 miles; Knock village is 12 miles on the AIP hotel line
Airport cabs
Cheapest to city
Bus Éireann 64 and 440
Fare not captured from a live ticket page on 19 Oct 2026 · Road time; no rail at the terminal
Lounge
1
Terminals
1
Passengers / year
946,381 (2025)

The lounge at NOC
NOC security wait times

6 photos

NOCGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Give the single checkpoint two hours

The check-in page asks for about two hours on a normal short-haul departure.

The getting-there page allows 90 minutes. August 2025 peaked at 106,361 passengers in the month.

Terminal

Stay on the security page for liquids

Containers up to 2 litres can stay in your cabin bag, with no clear-bag rule on that page.

The check-in page still describes the old 100 ml bag. The security FAQ is the rule at the lane.

Food

Eatwest is the only airside kitchen

It opens with the first departure and closes with the last, and it is departing passengers only.

Sláinte, upstairs, is the public café. Barwest will not send hot food or alcohol into the lounge.

Status

Closed on Christmas Day

The operator lists 364 operating days and names Christmas Day as the closure.

AIP administration is 08:00–16:00 UTC and tells crews to read the NOTAM. That line is not the passenger closing time.

Live conditions

Right now at NOC

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Short west-of-Ireland departures to Britain and the Mediterranean
Cabin-bag trips that can use the 2-litre liquids rule
Drivers who book the car park ahead

Watch out for

No railway, and the bus advice is stricter than the airport’s
Check-in page still describes a 100 ml liquids bag
Christmas Day closure and a single August peak
Nephin infant rule disagrees between the airport and Priority Pass

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

7.4

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

6.0

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

5.4

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

5.0

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

5.8

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

5.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

946,381 (2025)

Terminals

1 terminal

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for NOC.

Updated Oct 19, 2026

One terminal on the N17, 3 NM southwest of Charlestown, County Mayo.
946,381 passengers in 2025, all of the published split on UK and European routes.
Runway 08/26 is 2,511 × 45 m. Only runway 26 has a Category II approach.
Security allows liquids in containers up to 2 litres, kept in the cabin bag.
Closed Christmas Day. No railway at the airport.

8 official sources

https://www.irelandwestairport.com/news/record-passengers-numbers-in-2025/
https://www.irelandwestairport.com/corporate/facts-figures/
https://www.airnav.ie/AIRAC_OCT_2026/2026-10-01-AIRAC/html/eAIP/EI-AD-2.EIKN-en-IE.html
https://www.irelandwestairport.com/at-the-airport/security-customs/
https://www.irelandwestairport.com/at-the-airport/airport-lounge/
https://www.irelandwestairport.com/parking/drive-up-parking-rates/
https://www.irelandwestairport.com/at-the-airport/restaurants-cafes/
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/ireland/ireland-west-knock/noc-ireland-west-executive-lounge

Full guide

Explore the NOC guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Ireland West Airport Knock Airport and the Knock city center
City center
View Map
Getting There
3 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Airport cabsCheapest: Bus Éireann 64 and 440
View Getting There
Lounges
1 lounge with access rules, hours, and verdicts.
Nephin Lounge
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
This is one room, not a hub. Bag drop, security, Shopwest, and the gates are in the same building, so the time you save is at the kerb and at security, not in a transfer.
12 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Nephin LoungeEatwest
View Amenities
Water
Refill points and bottle prices.
View Water
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Ireland West Airport Knock Airport and the Knock city center

This airport NOC
City center Knock

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One passenger terminal, opened in 1986. Check-in and bag drop are in the main hall. Screens show the airline and the flight.
Security is the door between that hall and the departure lounge. Shopwest is the retail shop you walk through. Eatwest and Barwest are airside, a short walk from the gates.
Boarding gate 3 is to the left in the departure lounge. Nephin Lounge is on the right-hand side before that gate.
Sláinte Barista Café is upstairs in the main terminal and is open to the public. The prayer room is upstairs in that café. ATMs are in arrivals and in departures.
The kids’ play area is in the departures lounge. A Changing Places facility is in the main terminal. Workstations and charging points are in the terminal, and the lounge has its own.
Car-hire desks are outside the arrivals hall. The operator says there are four companies on site and does not name them on the getting-there page. Licensed airport cabs wait outside arrivals.
AIP passenger notes: restaurant at the aerodrome, an ATM, a self-service tourist facility, first aid from the fire service, and hospitals in Castlebar and Galway. No hotel on the field. The hotel line lists Charlestown at 3 miles, Kiltimagh at 8 miles, Knock at 12 miles, and Claremorris at 20 miles.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

The airport sits on the N17 between Galway and Sligo. The driving page says about 45 minutes from Sligo, about 60–65 minutes from Galway, and just over 60 minutes from Athlone. Traffic in Ireland drives on the left.
Drive-up parking, on the airport’s rate card: set-down of 15 minutes or less is free once per car per day; 15 minutes to 1 hour €3; up to 2 hours €5; up to 3 hours €7; up to 4 hours €9; 24 hours €12. Two days are €26, not twice the daily cap. Seven days are €72. Pay at the terminal pay stations or the exit. The AIP counts 1,500 car-park spaces, including car hire.
Drop-off is outside the terminal entrance and is not a waiting lane. People meeting an arrival are told to use the car park.
Bus Éireann Expressway route 64 (Galway–Derry) and route 440 (Athlone–Westport) both stop at the airport. No fare was taken from a live ticket page on 19 October 2026. The bus company’s airport page asks passengers to arrive 3 hours before departure.
There is no airport railway. The operator points rail passengers at stations on the Dublin Heuston–Westport line, then a bus or a cab onward.
AIP published administration is 08:00–16:00 UTC daily, with an explicit NOTAM override. Do not treat that window as the passenger closing time. Restaurants and the lounge are tied to the first and last departure. The airport is normally closed on 25 December.

Ride to Knock

Pickup at NOC. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Knock city center for a live price.

To city center

Knock

~0.4 km

Typical fare

See app

Live quotes open in the ride app

On-demand apps

Uber → city Bolt

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Knock — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Drive-up car park

On-site parks, 1,500 spaces including car hire in the AIP. Pay at the terminal stations or the barrier.

Time to city

About 45 min to Sligo, 60–65 min to Galway

Cost

€12 per 24 hours drive-up; 15 min set-down free once a day

Tip: Pre-book is advertised at up to 20% off. Two days are €26, not €24.

Cheapest

Bus Éireann 64 and 440

Expressway 64 runs Galway–Derry via the airport. Route 440 runs Athlone–Westport via the airport.

Time to city

Road time; no rail at the terminal

Cost

Fare not captured from a live ticket page on 19 Oct 2026

Tip: The bus page says arrive 3 hours early. The airport says 90 minutes to 2 hours.

FastestBest for luggage

Airport cabs

Licensed cabs wait outside arrivals. There is no published flat fare on the airport page.

Time to city

Charlestown is 3 miles; Knock village is 12 miles on the AIP hotel line

Cost

No published flat fare

Tip: Do not wait in the drop-off lane. Meet arrivals from the car park.

Check your lounge access at NOC

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Depends

Main terminalAirside

A small airside lounge by gate 3. Useful with Priority Pass or a €22 booking, and thin if you want a shower or a meal.

Access: Day pass · Priority Pass · Lounge Pass · Aer Lingus silver and above · British Airways silver and above

Hours: Airport: opens 2 hours before the first departure, maximum 3 hours before scheduled departure. Priority Pass: 08:00–18:00 daily, closed 25 December, winter hours vary.

Amenities: Two complimentary drinks · Wi-Fi · Workstations and charging · Newspapers and magazines · Flight information screen · TV

Best for: A seat before the first wave of departures

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Nephin Lounge is the only lounge. It is airside, before boarding gate 3. The airport opens it two hours before the first departure and caps a visit at 3 hours before the scheduled departure. Priority Pass instead prints 08:00–18:00 every day, closed 25 December, and says winter hours change. Keep both.
Walk-up is €25 for an adult. Online pre-book is €22. Children under 12 are €13 and must be with an adult. The airport says infants under 2 are free. Priority Pass says children under 2 are not admitted. Those rules are not the same.
Access the airport names: pay on the day, pre-book, Priority Pass, Lounge Pass, and Aer Lingus or British Airways silver and above. The pages do not name LoungeKey or DragonPass. British Airways silver access does not mean British Airways flies here.
You register at the Customer Information desk or a Shopwest till and get a keypad code. Priority Pass says that registration is landside. Complimentary drinks are capped at two per person. Hot food and alcohol cannot be ordered in from Barwest. Food and drink cannot leave the lounge. Showers are not listed.
Eatwest is the airside restaurant, open from the first departing flight until the last, departing passengers only. The airport highlights a chicken curry and says breakfast is served for early flights. Barwest is the airside bar on the same span of the day, with pints, cocktails, and pub snacks. Service times move with the schedule.
Sláinte Barista Café is upstairs, public, and licensed. It serves coffee, pastries, cakes, sandwiches, and stone-baked pizza, with a view of the runway. Menus include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices if you ask. No euro prices are printed on the restaurant page.
Free airport Wi-Fi is advertised for the terminal. The lounge also has free Wi-Fi, newspapers, workstations, charging points, a flight screen, and a TV.

basic

Nephin Lounge

Has Lounge

Airside before gate 3. €25 on the day or €22 booked ahead. Two drinks, no advertised showers. Priority Pass and Lounge Pass accepted.

basic

Eatwest

Food

Airside restaurant from the first departure until the last. Breakfast and a house chicken curry. Departing passengers only.

basic

Sláinte Barista Café

Food

Upstairs public café and licensed bar with coffee, sandwiches, and stone-baked pizza. The prayer room is in the café.

good

Free Wi-Fi

Fast WiFi

The facilities page advertises free high-speed Wi-Fi. ATMs are in arrivals and departures.

basic

Kids’ play area

Family Friendly

A play area in the departures lounge and a Changing Places facility in the main terminal.

good

Security lane

Accessibility

One checkpoint. Liquids up to 2 litres stay in the bag on the security page. Scanners are described as microwave, not X-ray.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

This is one room, not a hub. Bag drop, security, Shopwest, and the gates are in the same building, so the time you save is at the kerb and at security, not in a transfer.
If you are only carrying a cabin bag and you already checked in online, the check-in page says you can usually go straight to security. Checked bags go to the airline bag-drop with the boarding pass.
Buy water before security if you want it, or carry a bottle up to 2 litres through. The security FAQ allows that. Do not assume a free fountain; none is marked on the airport pages.
The set-down lane is free for 15 minutes or less, once per car per day. Waiting is not allowed in the drop-off zone. A second entry the same day is charged. Lost tickets are €50 unless you can prove the stay, in which case the normal rate applies.
Pre-booking parking is advertised as up to 20% off the drive-up rate. The published drive-up tariff is the one to trust if you have not booked: €3 up to 1 hour, €5 up to 2 hours, €7 up to 3 hours, €9 up to 4 hours, and €12 for 24 hours.
Nephin Lounge entry is €22 if you pre-book and €25 at the desk. You still have to collect a door code at the Customer Information desk or a Shopwest till. Walking straight to gate 3 does not open the door.
August 2025 was the busiest month on record, 106,361 passengers, and 17 August passed 4,600. That is the day the one security lane and the one restaurant feel smallest.
There is no station on the site. If the Bus Éireann timing is tight, the airport’s own advice and the bus company’s advice do not match: the airport says 90 minutes to 2 hours, and the Bus Éireann airport page says plan on 3 hours.

01

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Follow the security page, not the check-in page

Containers up to 2 litres may stay in cabin baggage.

The security FAQ repeats that the 100 ml limit is gone and that water bottles qualify. The check-in page still describes a clear 100 ml bag.

Pro

You can carry a bottle through.

Watch-out

The two airport pages disagree.

02

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Use the 15-minute set-down once

A free set-down is one entry per car per day.

Drive-up is €12 for 24 hours after the hourly steps. A lost ticket is €50 unless you can prove the stay.

Pro

The daily cap is low if you book the right product.

Watch-out

A second entry the same day is charged.

03

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Collect the Nephin door code before you rely on the gate

Priority Pass and paid entry both start at the information desk or a Shopwest till.

The lounge is on the right before gate 3. Two drinks are included. The airport and Priority Pass disagree on infants under 2.

Pro

€22 ahead is cheaper than €25 at the desk.

Watch-out

No showers, and hot food cannot be sent in.

04

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Do not plan the bus to the airport’s 90-minute line

Bus Éireann tells airport passengers to allow 3 hours.

Route 64 and route 440 stop at the terminal. There is no station. Sligo is about 45 minutes by car and Galway about an hour.

Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Hydration notes pulled from the editorial guide.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Buy water before security if you want it, or carry a bottle up to 2 litres through. The security FAQ allows that. Do not assume a free fountain; none is marked on the airport pages.

Entry requirements

Ireland (IE)

Sign in and add a passport to see the entry requirement for Ireland.

Passports are saved in profile settings. Check the official site before you travel.

Disruptions

No current alerts on file

No editorial alerts are on file for this airport. We do not invent them.

Editorial file dated Oct 19, 2026. Typical delay percentages are omitted — they are not live news.

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

Write a review

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SXLSligo Airport
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GWYGalway Airport
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BLYBelmullet Aerodrome
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NNRConnemara Regional Airport
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ENKSt Angelo Airport
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IIAInishmaan Aerodrome
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