An estimated 850,000 people are due to travel through Dublin Airport this Christmas compared to almost 1.5 million people who passed through the airport during the comparable period in 2019. This is down by -42% compared to the same period pre-COVID-19. However Dublin Airport will see an increase of 615,000 passengers when compared to last year, when 235,000 passengers travelled through the country’s principal international gateway.
From Friday, December 17 to Tuesday, January 4, 2021 there is expected to be an average of 45,000 departing and arriving passengers each day, which compares to an average of 12,000 passengers per day over the Christmas season last year, and 77,000 per day during the same period in 2019.
The busiest day during the Christmas season is expected to be December 19, followed closely by December 23.
With new travel restrictions recently introduced by the Irish government for arrivals into Ireland, this has made passenger forecasting more difficult than a typical pre-COVID-19 Christmas so final passenger numbers may vary if passengers decided not to travel that have already booked.
Over the Christmas period Dublin Airport would like to remind all passengers to comply fully with COVID-19 guidelines throughout their entire journey.
Face masks are mandatory at Dublin Airport and must be worn when in the terminal buildings. In addition, social distancing protocols should be observed and there are more than 1,000 hand sanitisers located throughout the Dublin Airport campus.
In line with Irish Government and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines, access to the terminal buildings is limited to passengers, crew and airport staff.
Anyone planning to greet passengers should arrange to meet them outside the terminal buildings. There are new meeting points just outside Terminal 1 and at the glass walkway between the Terminal 2 car park and arrivals. It is recommended that anyone who is collecting passengers at Dublin Airport plan and arrange pick-ups in advance.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions Dublin Airport will be unable to host its normal Christmas entertainment music programme for the second year in a row.
Dublin Airport will close on Christmas Day - the only day on which it closes every year - however a number of staff members will remain on duty that day, including the airport’s emergency fire service personnel and Airport Police.
Flight operations will cease on Christmas Eve. The last flight to depart is an Air Moldova flight to Chișinău at 11.10pm and the final arrival is an Aer Lingus flight from Tenerife, which is due to arrive at 11.35pm.
The airport will reopen on St. Stephen’s Day when a TAP Air Portugal flight from Lisbon arrives at 03.05am.
Dublin Airport has the following key tips for passengers travelling over the Christmas holidays:
PASSENGERS SHOULD CHECK WHICH TERMINAL THEIR FLIGHT IS DEPARTING FROM
Aer Lingus, Emirates, and ALL American carriers operate from Terminal 2, while all other airlines operate from Terminal 1.
COVID-19 GUIDELINES
Passengers are reminded to follow COVID-19 guidelines throughout their entire journey through Dublin Airport. Passengers should wear a face mask throughout their airport journey (masks are not required for children under 13) and observe social distancing and hygiene etiquette throughout.
INFORMATION FOR ARRIVING PASSENGERS
To comply with Irish law, arriving passengers must complete an Electronic Passenger Locator Form. This form can be found HERE and should be completed online in advance of arriving in Ireland. Passengers should also familiarise themselves with current Irish Government guidelines in relation to arriving in Ireland. All arrivals aged 12 and over who are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 must provide either of the following: A negative or not detected antigen test (taken within 48 hours before arrival) or a negative or not detected RT-PCR test (taken within 72 hours before arrival).
EU LIQUIDS & GELS REGULATIONS – 100ML RULE
EU aviation liquid regulations are still in place, so passengers are reminded to pack any gifts in bottles or containers measuring more than 100ml into their checked-in luggage. Details can be found on www.dublinairport.com
REMOVE ALL SHARP OBJECTS FROM HAND LUGGAGE
Passengers are also reminded not to carry sharp objects in their hand-luggage, such as, scissors, nail files, blades, corkscrews, cutlery or other sharp objects of any description. These objects should be packed into checked in luggage. Christmas crackers may be brought through the passenger security screening area provided the novelty gifts inside are not sharp/prohibited items. Snow globes are not permitted in hand luggage due to their liquid content.
Passengers should prepare for security screening by removing their outer jacket, belts, keys, coins and laptops from cases so that security searches are kept to a minimum.
DON'T WRAP THAT PRESENT
If you are planning to bring Christmas gifts by air this festive season Dublin Airport is asking passengers not to gift wrap presents and to consider using an open gift bag instead.
Many passengers take a lot of care and time to wrap Christmas gifts for family and friends overseas. We would ask them not to wrap these gifts otherwise they may be disappointed if they are requested to open them at the passenger security screening area.
CHECK-IN ADVICE
Passengers should plan to arrive in the terminal building at least 90 minutes before their flight departure time irrespective of whether they are checking in online or at the airport. Passengers flying long-haul are advised to consult their airline's website for check-in times.
