December 10, 2024
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While the Christmas period will be busy at Dublin Airport, numbers travelling will be more subdued than normal due to the impact of the passenger cap.
Around 90,000 fewer passengers will travel this Christmas compared to last year, due to airlines not being able to add extra services on popular routes as they typically would at this time of year to cater for demand.
Christmas Passenger Advice
Dublin Airport’s passengers advice remains to arrive two hours in advance of a short-haul flight and three hours in advance of a long-haul flight.
The airport is expecting to welcome an average of 80,000 passengers every day between Wednesday, December 18 and Sunday, January 5.
The busiest day in the run up to Christmas will be Friday, December 20, with Friday when around 93,000 passengers will move through the airport's two terminals, December 27 set to be the busiest day post-Christmas when around 97,000 passengers are set to pass through.
Dublin Airport will close on Christmas Day – the only day it closes year round – however a skeleton team will remain on duty that day including the airport's Fire and Rescue and Airport Police.
Commentary
Looking ahead to the festive period, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager at Dublin Airport, said: "As the festive season approaches, Dublin Airport becomes a gateway for families, friends and loved ones to reunite. The airport team is dedicated to ensuring a smooth and festive experience for everyone passing through our doors.
"The next couple of weeks will be busy in the terminals, but the airport team is looking forward to making your experience as seamless as possible. As always in the days leading up to Christmas we will have lots of music and entertainment in our Arrivals Halls to give people the festive feels when reuniting with their loved ones.
"Christmas is a magical time at Dublin Airport and the team has been working hard since early Summer to put together our most expansive musical programme to date. Starting from today, more than 40 schools, choirs, and local acts will perform in the terminals, culminating on Christmas Eve, with a very special performance by the Dublin Gospel Choir. The days leading up to Christmas will also see a number of live radio and TV broadcasts at Dublin Airport and we also have Cork's singing superstar Allie Sherlock singing in T1 and T2 every Friday in December.
"Dublin Airport's Christmas programme got underway last week when its special Christmas Roadshow, featuring dancing elves and a singing Santa Claus, visited more than 3,000 kids in 11 schools in local communities near the airport.
"For those travelling home for Christmas, we know how special this time of year is and whether you’re reuniting with loved ones or bringing holiday cheer to those near and far, we wish you a safe, smooth, and joyful journey. While the passenger cap is holding back numbers flying this Christmas, it won't restrict the high levels of festive spirit and emotion that is synonymous with Dublin Airport at this time of year," added McQueen.
