Dublin Airport witnessed tear-jerking scenes on 22 December as hundreds of passengers poured through Arrivals for the Christmas break, according to live coverage by The Irish Sun. Families queued behind the barrier with handwritten signs, giant teddy bears and Santa hats, welcoming relatives from Berlin, Vancouver, Perth, Seattle, Geneva and San Francisco. The airport authority DAC deployed roving carollers and local band Keywest to keep spirits high while flight-information screens cycled through 290 scheduled arrivals on one of the busiest days of the year.
Airport operations ran smoothly, aided by 20 Automated Border-Control eGates installed earlier this year and a temporary staffing boost in the Border Management Unit. Average queue time at immigration during the 07:00-10:00 bank of transatlantic flights was 11 minutes, well below last year’s 22-minute peak. The smoother flow will be welcome news to corporate travel managers; many US-based executives combine Christmas leave with early-January client meetings in Dublin’s tech cluster.
If you’re unsure whether you need a visa for Ireland or want to avoid last-minute paperwork headaches, VisaHQ can help. The company’s streamlined online system lets travelers check requirements, upload documents and arrange courier collection, all from one dashboard. You can start the process or simply verify your eligibility at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/ before heading to the airport.
![Festive rush: Dublin Airport handles global homecomings as peak travel period begins]()
The emotional reunions underline how far international mobility has rebounded since the Covid-19 pandemic throttled travel in 2020-21. DAA expects to surpass 36 million passengers for 2025, breaking the pre-pandemic record. Yet the surge rekindles debate about the airport’s long-contested 32 million-passenger planning cap, currently under legal review. Fingal County Council’s enforcement notice earlier this year remains unresolved, and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has promised enabling legislation in 2026.
Travellers are reminded that revamped security at Terminal 2 means laptops and liquids can stay in hand luggage if placed flat in new CT scanners, but liquids must still be under 100 ml. The airport recommends arriving three hours before long-haul departures through the New Year peak. Business-class passengers should note that lounges may implement 90-minute stays to cope with demand.
For mobility professionals coordinating year-end relocations, the message is to book airport meet-and-greet and temporary accommodation early. Hotels within 10 km of the airport report 94 percent occupancy through 2 January, and short-term rental prices are up 8 percent year on year.
Airport operations ran smoothly, aided by 20 Automated Border-Control eGates installed earlier this year and a temporary staffing boost in the Border Management Unit. Average queue time at immigration during the 07:00-10:00 bank of transatlantic flights was 11 minutes, well below last year’s 22-minute peak. The smoother flow will be welcome news to corporate travel managers; many US-based executives combine Christmas leave with early-January client meetings in Dublin’s tech cluster.
If you’re unsure whether you need a visa for Ireland or want to avoid last-minute paperwork headaches, VisaHQ can help. The company’s streamlined online system lets travelers check requirements, upload documents and arrange courier collection, all from one dashboard. You can start the process or simply verify your eligibility at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/ before heading to the airport.
The emotional reunions underline how far international mobility has rebounded since the Covid-19 pandemic throttled travel in 2020-21. DAA expects to surpass 36 million passengers for 2025, breaking the pre-pandemic record. Yet the surge rekindles debate about the airport’s long-contested 32 million-passenger planning cap, currently under legal review. Fingal County Council’s enforcement notice earlier this year remains unresolved, and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has promised enabling legislation in 2026.
Travellers are reminded that revamped security at Terminal 2 means laptops and liquids can stay in hand luggage if placed flat in new CT scanners, but liquids must still be under 100 ml. The airport recommends arriving three hours before long-haul departures through the New Year peak. Business-class passengers should note that lounges may implement 90-minute stays to cope with demand.
For mobility professionals coordinating year-end relocations, the message is to book airport meet-and-greet and temporary accommodation early. Hotels within 10 km of the airport report 94 percent occupancy through 2 January, and short-term rental prices are up 8 percent year on year.
