The number of people travelling to Ireland for St Patrick's weekend will be lower this year due to the passenger cap, according to Dublin Airport operator daa.
This follows a quieter than usual Cheltenham Festival week where numbers flying out of Dublin Airport to enjoy the annual horse racing festival in the UK are also down due to the cap on slots for airlines this winter.
While news of restricted numbers this St Patrick's Day weekend will come as a disappointment to hotels, bars, tourism operators and retail businesses all around the country, big numbers are still expected to travel through Dublin Airport - the country's main international gateway - over the coming days.
The St Patrick's Day period is one of the pinnacles of Ireland's tourism year when many high net-worth visitors, many of them from North America and Asia, arrive here for extended breaks in Dublin and all around the country.
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According to Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport: "Between tomorrow (Wednesday) and next Tuesday, we're expecting to welcome around 400,000 passengers. The same period last year saw us welcome more than 410,000 passengers, so it’s clear that the cap is having an impact.
“Our departure gates will still be busy this week, with thousands of racing fans making the short trip to Cheltenham for the annual horse racing festival, while many others will avail of the long bank holiday weekend to enjoy a city break or spring trip overseas. Our arrivals halls will be busy too with tens of thousands of tourists arriving from all over the world to celebrate St Patrick's Day here in Ireland.
"Numbers coming to Ireland for St Patrick's Day will be a little more subdued this year due to the passenger cap, which is currently limiting the number of flights that airlines can operate, while the number of people heading to Cheltenham this week is also down due to airlines not being able to operate as many flights as a result of the cap, which is resulting in higher air fares.
"Passengers travelling through Terminal 1 and eyeing a pre-flight drink are in for a treat with the opening this week of our brand new "Arthur Guinness Bar", which is located just beyond the duty-free section in T1. Just like the old Guinness bar in T1, which served more pints of the black stuff on a daily basis than any other pub in Ireland, the new unit is already proving to be a big hit with passengers.
"We can't wait to welcome everyone over the coming days and would remind all passengers travelling to heed our advice to be at the airport two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours prior to a long-haul flight. Passengers should also prepare for security in advance of getting to the airport, ensuring that any liquids and gels in their hand luggage are 100ml or less and enclosed in a clear plastic bag. Following these rules will help prevent unnecessary delays when travelling through the airport,” said McQueen.