Aer Lingus ends driver's-licence travel: passports now mandatory on Ireland–UK flights
UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation now fully enforced – new headaches for Irish departure points
Government unveils €45 m Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030
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Aer Lingus scraps driver-licence travel option – Irish and UK passengers will need passports from 25 February
From 25 February 2026 Aer Lingus will require a passport or Irish Passport Card on all flights between Ireland and Great Britain, ending decades of driver-licence acceptance under the Common Travel Area. The move aligns the airline with Ryanair and coincides with the UK’s full ETA roll-out, meaning staff will check both passports and digital travel permissions at Irish airports. Business-travel managers must update policies immediately, ensure employees and dependants hold valid passports, and allow extra time at check-in next week.