Dublin Airport expects a rise of 22% in passenger numbers on Christmas flights this year compared to last year.
Operator daa said this will be the airport’s busiest festive period ever with a record 1.8 million passengers due to pass through the departures and arrivals halls.
Last year, 1.47m passengers travelled through the airport, around 20,000 fewer than in 2023, which the daa said was due to the impact of the passenger cap.
An average of around 96,000 people are expected per day in the 19-day period which began yesterday and will run up to 5 January.
The busiest days are expected to both be Sundays – the 21st and 28th – with over 100,000 passengers due to go through the airport each of those days.
Festive cheer and emotional reunions will be seen as those who live far from Ireland reunite with family members.
A festive programme is running up to Christmas Eve with musical performances, carol singing and live broadcasts to keep travellers and welcome parties entertained.
Due to the busy period, passengers are advised to arrive two hours in advance of a short-haul flight and three hours in advance of a long-haul flight.
The operator said people can expect a “smooth security experience” with, it says, 95% of passengers getting through the security screening in 20 minutes or under.
The last arrival on Christmas Eve will be an Aer Lingus flight from Tenerife which will land at around 11.15pm.
The daa, which operates Dublin and Cork Airports, appointed Nick Cole to the newly created position of deputy CEO on Monday.
The development follows months of wrangling between the company’s CEO Kenny Jacobs and its board of directors.
It is understood there has been legal correspondence sent by both sides in the dispute.