For the fourth time in five years, RDU has been named a Top Five Large Airport in North America in a J.D. Power passenger satisfaction study. The 2025 rankings reflect overall traveler satisfaction based on seven factors: ease of travel; terminal facilities; airport staff; level of trust in the airport; food, beverage and retail; and the experience passengers had on arrival and departure. The study is based on surveys from travelers who evaluated their airport experience between July of 2024 and July of 2025.
Dublin Service: Aer Lingus will launch nonstop flights from RDU to Dublin in April, providing travelers with the region’s first direct gateway to Ireland. Dublin is one of the most in-demand international destinations RDU does not currently serve. Aer Lingus also offers convenient connections from Ireland to destinations across Europe.
“Dublin’s tourism, technology and pharmaceutical sectors make it a natural fit for nonstop service to the Research Triangle region”, said Tammie Hall-Roberts, chair of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority Board. “RDU is looking forward to connecting our two dynamic destinations with new opportunities for business and leisure travel.”
Recreation and Wellness Destination Public Workshops: The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority and Pacific Elm Properties will hold a second public workshop on Sept. 23 to collect community input for a potential recreation and wellness destination on 136 acres of airport land. The airport is working with the developer with the goal of creating a unique destination that serves the community, respects the natural character of the site and generates revenue for the airport.
The Sept. 23 public workshop will be held from 4 – 7 p.m. at Laurel Hills Community Center at 3808 Edwards Mill Road in Raleigh. Attendees can drop in anytime to learn more about potential concepts for the project, ask questions and submit feedback and ideas to the project team.
More than 150 people attended the first workshop, which was held on Aug. 19. A third workshop is scheduled for Oct. 21 at Frontier RTP in Research Triangle Park.
More information and FAQs can be found at rdu.com/recreation.
Sustainability Report: The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority has released its Sustainability Program Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024/2025. The report highlights the Authority’s efforts to integrate sustainable practices into infrastructure development and airport operations. Major accomplishments from the fiscal year include investing more than $19 million in sustainability efforts in calendar year 2024 by:
- Purchasing hybrid and electric vehicles and chargers.
- Pursuing Envision sustainability ratings.
- Developing an Energy Management Plan and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.
- Upgrading the Emergency Operations Center.
The Authority also achieved a target of reducing water consumption by 10% on a per passenger basis and hosted the Annual Noise Conference for the American Association of Airport Executives / Airport Council International.
The Airport Authority is committed to continuous improvement as RDU grows to meet the air service needs and wants of our community. To learn more about our sustainability efforts and see the full Sustainability Program Annual Report, visit rdu.com/sustainability.
Dining and Shopping: New retail and restaurant options are now serving travelers in Terminals 1 and 2. The District by Root & Branch is located at Gate A7 in Terminal 1 and is your go-to destination for unique gifts made by North Carolina designers, along with fashion, home accessories and jewelry. You’ll also find Five Points News & Gift at Gate A7. It offers a curated selection of local foods, handcrafted goods and North Carolina-themed souvenirs, along with tech accessories, books and newspapers.
Nearby at Gate A4, Brightleaf News & Gift provides travelers with the charm of Durham’s Brightleaf District and offers snacks, drinks, books and magazines. Natalie’s Candy Jar is open for business at Gate A6 with a selection of nostalgic and new candy creations. In Terminal 2, Half Moon Empanadas is now serving award-winning sweet and savory empanadas and freshly brewed coffee at Gate C3.