Aer Lingus has confirmed that, from Tuesday 25 February 2026, every passenger travelling on its services between the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain must present either a valid passport or an Irish passport card. All other forms of photo identification – including driving licences, bus passes and work or student ID cards – will cease to be accepted. (aol.com)
The decision brings Aer Lingus into line with Ryanair, which introduced a passports-only rule on Common Travel Area (CTA) routes in 2023. Although the CTA legally permits Irish and British citizens to move between both jurisdictions without a passport, carriers are free to impose more stringent document checks provided they apply them consistently. Aer Lingus says the change "aligns with the travel-document requirements across the rest of our network and will ensure consistency and further improve our operational performance for customers." (aol.com)
In practical terms, the policy means that an estimated 1.6 million leisure and business travellers who relied on driving licences or other ID for short-notice trips will now need to hold a passport. The airline has begun emailing and texting customers with bookings after 25 February, but travel agents warn that many occasional travellers remain unaware of the change. There is particular concern for multinational companies that routinely send staff between Dublin and British regional cities for day trips; travel managers are urging employees to verify that their passports are both valid and physically available before departure.
![Aer Lingus to Require Passports on Ireland-Great Britain Flights from 25 February]()
For anyone who suddenly discovers their passport has expired—or who simply needs a fast, expert-guided application—VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers an online service that can help streamline renewals and secure new travel documents. The platform also provides up-to-date advice on entry requirements for Great Britain and other destinations, making it a useful one-stop resource as airlines tighten document checks.
Irish government officials have emphasised that the CTA itself has not changed and that ferries, Bus Éireann and most British Airways flights will continue to accept alternative ID. Nevertheless, lawyers say the Aer Lingus move highlights wider legal uncertainty: in the absence of uniform CTA rules, each carrier’s policy can differ, creating confusion for passengers and carrier-liability risks for airlines that wrongly transport undocumented travellers.
Travel-risk advisers recommend that firms update their internal travel policies immediately, add passport-validity reminders to corporate booking tools, and consider reimbursing employees for the €35 Irish passport card (delivered in three to five working days) as a rapid-issue alternative to a full passport book.
The decision brings Aer Lingus into line with Ryanair, which introduced a passports-only rule on Common Travel Area (CTA) routes in 2023. Although the CTA legally permits Irish and British citizens to move between both jurisdictions without a passport, carriers are free to impose more stringent document checks provided they apply them consistently. Aer Lingus says the change "aligns with the travel-document requirements across the rest of our network and will ensure consistency and further improve our operational performance for customers." (aol.com)
In practical terms, the policy means that an estimated 1.6 million leisure and business travellers who relied on driving licences or other ID for short-notice trips will now need to hold a passport. The airline has begun emailing and texting customers with bookings after 25 February, but travel agents warn that many occasional travellers remain unaware of the change. There is particular concern for multinational companies that routinely send staff between Dublin and British regional cities for day trips; travel managers are urging employees to verify that their passports are both valid and physically available before departure.
For anyone who suddenly discovers their passport has expired—or who simply needs a fast, expert-guided application—VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers an online service that can help streamline renewals and secure new travel documents. The platform also provides up-to-date advice on entry requirements for Great Britain and other destinations, making it a useful one-stop resource as airlines tighten document checks.
Irish government officials have emphasised that the CTA itself has not changed and that ferries, Bus Éireann and most British Airways flights will continue to accept alternative ID. Nevertheless, lawyers say the Aer Lingus move highlights wider legal uncertainty: in the absence of uniform CTA rules, each carrier’s policy can differ, creating confusion for passengers and carrier-liability risks for airlines that wrongly transport undocumented travellers.
Travel-risk advisers recommend that firms update their internal travel policies immediately, add passport-validity reminders to corporate booking tools, and consider reimbursing employees for the €35 Irish passport card (delivered in three to five working days) as a rapid-issue alternative to a full passport book.
