Dublin Airport expects lower St Patrick’s week numbers

The number of people passing through Dublin Airport this St Patrick’s Day weekend will be down on last year due to the passenger cap, while Shannon and Cork are expecting higher passenger numbers.

Between tomorrow and next Tuesday, Dublin Airport is expecting 400,000 passengers.

That’s down on the same period last year when more than 410,000 people passed through.

“It’s clear that the cap is having an impact,” said Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager at daa.

“Numbers coming to Ireland for St Patrick’s Day will be a little more subdued this year due to the passenger cap, which is currently limiting the number of flights that airlines can operate.

“The number of people heading to Cheltenham this week is also down due to airlines not being able to operate as many flights as a result of the cap, which is resulting in higher air fares,” he added.

However, he said departure and arrival halls will still be busy over the coming days.

He urged passengers to arrive at the airport two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul flight.

“Passengers should also prepare for security in advance of getting to the airport, ensuring that any liquids and gels in their hand luggage are 100ml or less and enclosed in a clear plastic bag,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shannon Airport is preparing to welcome almost 38,000 passengers through its doors over the St Patrick’s Day period – up 10% on the same time last year.

Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, said the airport has had a positive start to the year with passenger levels in February up almost 8% on last year.

“Our dedicated team stand ready to extend a warm Shannon welcome to all our passengers, ensuring an easy, seamless and comfortable journey through the airport,” she said.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone during this festive season, and we would like to extend a Céad Míle Fáilte to everyone this St Patrick’s Day,” she added.

Cork Airport is also expecting to see higher numbers this bank holiday weekend when compared to last year.

53,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport, up 7% on 2024.

“St Patrick’s week starts the tourist season and we in Cork Airport have a feast of traditional music and song to celebrate our national culture and to welcome visitors and locals together to Cork,” said Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director at Cork Airport.

“For outbound passengers, we have additional resources supporting our operation to ensure the standards of service this year remain as good as our passengers expect,” he added.