Dublin Airport to be ‘much busier’ this Christmas compared to 2020

Dublin Airport says it expects to be “much busier” this Christmas season compared to last year, with an average of 45,000 passengers set to travel through the terminals each day.

This compares with an average of 12,000 daily passengers in 2020.

The busiest day during the Christmas season is expected to be this Sunday, December 19, followed closely by Tuesday, December 23.

The traffic situation this year is more unpredictable than a normal Christmas so final passenger numbers may differ from the forecast traffic levels, a spokesperson says.

However, the normal Christmas entertainment schedule at Dublin Airport has been postponed for a second year.

Kevin Cullinane, Group Head of Communications at daa, the operators of Dublin and Cork airports said: “Every effort was made to put an entertainment schedule in place, and we would like to thank all those that volunteered their talents and services in a bid to make it happen, but unfortunately, due to COVID-19 guidelines, Dublin Airport is unable to host its Christmas music programme this year.”

“However, everything lies in readiness for Santa’s flight plans this Christmas Eve,” he says.

“We are maintaining close contact with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to monitor Santa’s progress over Irish air space, and to ensure that his reindeer are assisted with a smooth landing.

“There will be no flights on Christmas Day to make sure Santa has the skies to himself as he approaches Ireland from the North Pole after midnight on Christmas Eve.

“Everyone can help ensure he maintains social distance by being tucked up early for bed on the night and stay fast asleep.”

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 and Airport Police.

Flight operations will cease on Christmas Eve with the last flight to depart is an Air Moldova flight to Chi?in?u 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.

“Over the Christmas period we would like to remind all passengers to comply fully with COVID-19 guidelines throughout their journey through Dublin Airport,” Cullinane said.

“Face masks should be worn when in the airport buildings, social distancing protocols should be observed and there are more than 1,000 hand sanitisers located throughout the airport campus.”