Dublin Airport anticipates record numbers for St Brigid’s weekend

Dublin Airport expects to handle 382,000 passengers over the St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend, an increase of around 40,000 compared with the previous year.

Friday stands out as the peak day with more than 100,000 passengers forecast to pass through the terminals, while the average daily figure across Friday to Monday reaches 95,000. Many travellers will seek winter sun destinations, while others arrive for events linked to the growing St Brigid’s weekend festival across the island.

The rise in numbers follows the High Court suspension of seat restrictions from the airport cap and the introduction of new routes to places such as Cancun and Tromso.

Passengers receive reminders to arrive two hours early for short-haul flights and three hours for long-haul, with updated security rules no longer requiring removal of liquids or electronics due to new scanning technology.

Graeme McQueen shared “The first bank holiday weekend of the year is going to be a busy one in both the departures and arrivals halls at Dublin Airport and we can’t wait to welcome everyone.” “We’re expecting thousands of tourists from around the world who are visiting Ireland for a winter break. Events and festivals are a big driver of inward tourism these days and the addition of the St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend is proving to be a popular reason to visit Ireland at what was previously a quiet time of year. Numbers travelling this weekend are likely to be 12pc higher than the same weekend last year. This sharp increase reflects the suspension by the High Court of the seat restrictions that were in place last year due to the airport cap, and the recent addition of great new routes to likes of Cancun and Tromso, which are already proving very popular.”

“A lot of Ireland-based travellers will also avail of the coming long weekend to get away for a city break, some winter sun or to visit loved ones overseas. It’s perhaps no surprise to see so many heading for the departure gates this weekend following what has been a very wet and dreary start to 2026 in Ireland.”