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Dublin Airport Terminal 2 978,000 passengers expected over Christmas holidays
- Numbers up 8pc on 2015
- 83,000 to use airport on Friday, December 23
Dublin Airport is expecting its busiest ever Christmas with just under one million people expected to arrive and depart during the festive season.
A total of 978,000 people are expected to travel through the airport from Friday, December 23, to Friday, January 6 – the busiest in its 76-year history.
“Friday, December 23 is expected to be the busiest day before Christmas, with almost 83,000 passengers due to arrive and depart through both terminals, while Friday, December 30, is expected to be the busiest day after Christmas, particularly with passengers heading to winter sun and skiing destinations,” said DAA spokesperson Siobhán O’Donnell.
“Dublin Airport is a truly magical place at Christmas time with many wonderful, emotional family reunions at arrivals in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2,” O’Donnell added.
“We’ve 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. 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.”
The airport’s terminals are decked with 100,000 led lights, which use significantly less electricity than traditional lighting, more than 100 Christmas trees, 500 snowflakes/stars and 20 festive displays.
Dublin Airport has also booked more than 30 musical groups from local schools and choirs to perform in both terminals in the days leading up to Christmas.
Ryan Tubridy’s RTE Radio One programme and 2FM’s Eoghan McDermott will broadcast live from the airport on December 23, from 9am and 4pm respectively. TV3 has also been filming its Coming Home for Christmas documentary at the airport.
Dublin Airport will close on Christmas Day – the only day on which it closes every year – but a number of staff members will remain on duty including the airport’s emergency fire services. Flight operations will cease on Christmas Eve after the last flight departs at 22.50 to Chisinau with Air Moldova and will resume on St. Stephen’s Day when Aer Lingus’ EI 104 from New York lands at 5am.
