The June Bank Holiday weekend is traditionally one of the busiest periods of the year for the airport, and 2026 is proving no different, with more than 130,000 passengers are set to travel through Dublin Airport over the course of the weekend.
Speaking ahead of the busy period, Dublin Airport Head of Media Relations, Graeme McQueen, painted a vivid picture of the activity expected across the airport.
*"The departure gates will be busy with sports fans, holidaymakers and business travellers heading overseas, while the arrivals halls will welcome tens of thousands of tourists from around the world, including many arriving for the Leinster versus Toulon rugby match on Saturday and the Punchestown Races, which begin today and continue throughout the weekend. We love these busy weekends and the team at Dublin Airport can't wait to welcome everyone,"* he said.
The surge in passenger numbers comes at a significant time for Dublin Airport, as debate continues around the airport's passenger cap.
The cap was introduced in 2007 following the construction of Terminal 2, with the aim of limiting traffic growth in the surrounding area. Originally set at 32 million passengers annually, the limit has been temporarily increased and now stands at 40 million passengers for 2026.
Meanwhile, both Cork and Shannon airports are also experiencing a busy Bank Holiday weekend, with more than 65,000 passengers expected to travel through each airport.
With passenger numbers expected to be particularly high, travellers are being advised to arrive at Dublin Airport between two and three hours before their scheduled departure. Processing times at security and passport control may vary depending on demand.
The EU's Entry Exit System became fully operational last month. The digital system replaces passport stamps for non-EU travellers entering and leaving the bloc and includes biometric checks for eligible passengers.
According to Yvonne Moynihan of Wizz Air, the additional checks could result in passengers experiencing "longer waiting times than anticipated."
