Cork Airport is preparing for one of its busiest festive periods yet, with 164,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport over Christmas and New Year. Of that total, more than 58,000 passengers are due to arrive or depart between now and Christmas Eve alone, reflecting a strong seasonal surge in travel.
Passenger numbers this Christmas are up seven per cent compared to the same period last year, underlining continued growth for the airport, which was recently named Europe’s Best Regional Airport. Sunday, December 21 is forecast to be the busiest day for arrivals, as thousands return home for the holidays, while Sunday, December 28 is expected to be the peak day for departures as people head away to celebrate the New Year or return to work and study.
Arriving passengers can expect a warm festive welcome, with Cork Airport embracing the spirit of Christmas through live performances from popular choirs and musicians on the Arrivals stage. These performances will continue daily until December 23. In addition, Cork City Council, as part of its “Corkmas” campaign, will be surprising some arriving passengers with prizes and gift cards, encouraging visitors and returning residents to spend time and money in Cork city and its surrounding suburbs over the holiday period.
Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director of Cork Airport, said the festive season is one of the most special times of the year for the airport. He noted that the days leading up to Christmas are marked by emotional homecomings, while Saint Stephen’s Day through to New Year’s Day brings waves of departures and farewells. He added that Cork Airport takes particular pride in delivering a friendly, welcoming service at Christmas, when the airport atmosphere is at its most memorable.
In a festive twist, Cork Airport has also confirmed that Santa Claus has filed his flight plan and is expected to arrive on Christmas Eve, possibly even earlier if weather conditions allow. With no commercial flights operating at the scheduled time, airspace across Cork and the wider Munster region will be cleared to ensure Santa can travel without delay as he delivers presents to children throughout the region.
Passengers travelling over the festive period are advised to plan ahead to ensure a smooth journey. Cork Airport recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before departure and allowing extra time if checking in baggage. Travellers are also encouraged to review security guidelines in advance, avoid wrapping gifts before travel, and remember that Christmas crackers are not permitted onboard aircraft. Real-time flight updates are available via corkairport.com and the airport’s WhatsApp flight information service.
