Busiest Christmas Ever At Dublin Airport
Almost 1.2 million passengers expected to travel
Dublin Airport will have its busiest Christmas on record this year, as almost 1.2 million people are expected to arrive and depart during the festive season.
From Friday, December 20 to Friday, January 3, 2020 an expected 1,171,000 people will travel through Dublin Airport. The numbers travelling this year are up 3% compared to the same period last year.
This will be the busiest Christmas in the airport’s 79-year history, according to Dublin Airport spokesperson, Siobhán O’Donnell.
“Friday, December 20 is expected to be the busiest day before Christmas, with over 90,000 passengers due to arrive and depart through both terminals, while Friday, December 27 is expected to be the busiest day after Christmas, particularly with passengers heading to winter sun and skiing destinations,” Ms O’Donnell said.
“Dublin Airport is a truly magical place at Christmas time with many wonderful, emotional family reunions at arrivals in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2,” she added.
“Over the years we have had a number of Christmas marriage proposals, and every year we have grandparents seeing their grandchildren in the flesh for the first time – whether that be Irish emigrants returning home or people from overseas visiting their family here in Ireland. Increasingly, those waiting to meet their loved ones at Dublin Airport are entering into the spirit of Christmas by dressing up and making signs to welcome family and friends.”
More than 1,600 performers from local schools and choirs will sing in both terminals in the days leading up to Christmas bringing a true Ceád Míle Fáilte to the many people coming home for the Christmas Holidays and to those visiting Ireland from overseas.
Once again, the Dublin Airport campus and terminal buildings have been decorated to give a special atmosphere to the airport over this festive season. The terminals are decked with more than 300,000 led lights, which use significantly less electricity than traditional lighting, more than 60 Christmas trees, 500 metres of garlands, 30 Christmas wreaths and 30 festive displays.
RTE Radio One Ryan Tubridy Show will broadcast live from the airport on Monday December 23 from 9am to 10am.
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 services.
Flight operations will cease on Christmas Eve after the last flight departs to Chisinau with Air Moldova at 11.20pm and they will resume on St. Stephen’s Day when Aer Lingus’ EI 104 from New York lands at 5am.