Dublin Airport set to welcome 340,000 passengers over bank holiday weekend

St Brigid’s Festival & England rugby match set to boost visitor numbers.

The arrival of thousands of tourists and England rugby fans are set to swell numbers travelling through Dublin Airport over the coming St Brigid’s bank holiday weekend.

The first bank holiday weekend of the year will see around 340,000 passengers travelling through Dublin Airport over the four days between Friday and Monday.

Over the four-day period, around 171,000 passengers are set to arrive into Dublin Airport. Many of those will be rugby fans heading to the match, while Ireland is also set to welcome many visitors from around the world who are coming to Ireland to enjoy the increasingly popular St Brigid’s weekend festival, which will see events taking place all around the island.

Passengers departing from Dublin Airport over the coming days are reminded to arrive at their terminal two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours prior to a long-haul flight.

New Bus Route
Getting to and from the airport just got even easier for passengers and staff with the launch this week of the new 19 bus route, which runs between the airport and the city centre, taking in the busy suburbs of Ballymun and Drumcondra. The 24-hour route will depart the airport 66 times per day between Monday and Friday, 58 times per day on Saturdays and 57 times per day on Sundays.

According to Sarah Ryan, Director of Communications at daa, the operator of Dublin Airport: “It’s going to be a busy weekend in both the departures and arrivals halls at Dublin Airport. We’re expecting several thousand England rugby fans to arrive in for the big rugby game on Saturday evening in Aviva Stadium and they’ll be joined by 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 and the accompanying festival of events around the country is proving to be a popular reason to visit Ireland at what was previously a quiet time of year.

“A lot of Ireland-based travellers will also avail of the long weekend to get away for a city break, some winter sun or to visit loved ones overseas.

“With an average of 85,000 passengers going through our terminals each day this weekend, passengers can expect the airport to be busy, but they can make their journey nice and smooth by preparing in advance. Top tips for the coming weekend include preparing in advance for security, with all liquids in hand luggage being 100mls or under and enclosed in a clear plastic bag. Passengers should also plan how they’re going to get to and from the airport. Demand for our car parks is high, but we do have spaces available and passengers should book in advance online to ensure a space and to get the best price available. Or they could join the almost one-third of passengers who now travel to the airport by bus via one of the 1,070 daily bus connections now operating here every single day, including the new 24-hour number 19 route,” added Ryan.

For passengers looking to travel in a little extra style over the bank holiday weekend, Dublin Airport is offering special rates on its lounges, which can be booked for as little as €25 per person via the Dublin Airport website.