The number of cars using the new Quick Park facility near Dublin Airport hit a record high of 2,734 over the weekend.

The car park, owned by Aircoach founder Mr John O'Sullivan, provides the only competition to Aer Rianta's short- and long-term car parks, which between them have over 18,000 spaces.

Mr O'Sullivan said he was confident the car park, which costs €5 per day, would fill completely over the next few months. It has a capacity of 3,500 spaces and Quick Park is advising motorists to book online to avoid disappointment.

The car park, while far smaller than Aer Rianta's parking operations, has become a serious rival to the State airport company. If current bookings are repeated throughout the year Quick Park stands to produce €3.6 million in revenue in its first year.

The land where the park is situated is owned by property developer Mr Gerry Gannon, and Quick Park has taken a 10-year lease. Mr O'Sullivan, who sold his Aircoach company several months ago to UK firm First Group, owns Quick Park along with his wife Una.

March was the busiest month so far for the company, with about 8,800 tickets sold. The company operates shuttle buses to the terminal every five minutes. The buses are provided by Aircoach, which also provides a service to the Aer Rianta car parks.

Mr O'Sullivan admitted that handling demand in the summer months could prove difficult and he said in the long term the company might seek to acquire extra space.