According to data from Dublin Airport, 850,000 passengers might pass through its doors for Christmas travel. During the 2020 Christmas season, the airport saw only 235,000 passengers.
Though the expected increase is welcome news to many, passenger numbers will still be lower than before the pandemic. In 2019, Dublin Airport served 1.5 million travelers during the Christmas season.
Nonetheless, this year’s increase is a hopeful sign for both the airport and the travel industry as a whole.
Many travelers have booked flights already, which helped the airport collect accurate data. So far, it seems that Dec. 19 and Dec. 23 will be the busiest travel days.
However, constantly shifting COVID-19 related entry requirements make predictions more difficult this year. Unexpected changes in restrictions could cause travelers to cancel flights.
Ireland’s current COVID-19 entry requirements are as follows:
If unvaccinated, visitors must provide negative results from a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival.
Passengers with proof of recovery or full vaccination can provide results from an antigen test taken within 48 hours before arrival. Such tests are valid only if administered by professionals.
Visitors must also submit a passenger locator form before departing from their country of origin.
Though Ireland is currently seeing high numbers of new COVID-19 cases per day, daily death rates are low.