- 1,021,250 passengers over season, up 2pc
- record day was Friday December 22 with 85,000
Nicky and Jenny welcome everyone home from Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport for RTÉ 2FM. Pictured is: Nicky Byrne with Meadhbh Carr, Sinead Carr and Sandra Claffey. Picture: Kinlan Photography.
DAA’s Siobhan O’Donnell said “Friday, December 22 is expected to be the busiest day before Christmas, with almost 85,000 passengers due to arrive and depart through both terminals, while Friday, December 29 is expected to be the busiest day after Christmas, particularly with passengers heading to winter sun and skiing destinations,” the .
“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. 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.”
Dublin Airport has 1,000 performers from local schools and choirs singing in both terminals in the days leading up to Christmas. The 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 will close on Christmas Day with some 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 23.10 to Chisinau with Air Moldova and will resume on St. Stephen’s Day when Aer Lingus’ EI 104 from New York lands at 5am
Shannon airport remains open on Christmas day. Ethiopian’s Addis-Dublin-LA service will transit through Shannon.
Ryan Tubridy’s RTE Radio One programme and 2FM’s Nicky Byrne and Jenny Greene broadcasted live from Dublin Airport on Friday, December 22 – tipped to be the busiest day of the year.
