Belfast International Airport says it is "very close" to securing a replacement direct flight to the US as passenger numbers reached record levels of 5.15 million for 2016.
According to the airport, the amount of people passing through the arrivals and departures halls increased by more than 17% last year.
However, the hub is losing Northern Ireland's only transatlantic service, to Newark, after United Airlines announced it was pulling the plug. Its last flight will be on Monday.
But airport boss Graham Keddie says it is "pursuing a number of positive leads" for a new service to America.
He said growth was driven by inbound visitors, as well as those from the Republic, and he was confident Aldergrove could increase passengers to 5.4 million this year.
Belfast International passenger numbers surge with new US route on cards - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk