Cork Airport expects to welcome over 135,000 passengers between now and January 6, 2023. 

 

Christmas 2022 is the first festive season in three years where passengers can travel freely, without any international travel restrictions.  

 

Air Traffic Control has reviewed Santa’s flight plan for Christmas Eve and approval is in hand!
 

Cork Airport — December 12, 2022 — Cork Airport expects to welcome over 135,000 arriving and departing passengers between now and January 6, 2023. In a year that has brought a very strong recovery of passenger traffic at Ireland’s second busiest airport, this Christmas will be the first opportunity for passengers to travel, free of COVID restrictions – the first such opportunity in three years. 

 

2022 has brought a marked recovery of passenger traffic at Cork Airport. As the global aviation sector emerges from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cork Airport has experienced its busiest year since 2019. Across the summer and winter schedules, a total of 42 routes from 8 airlines were on offer from Munster’s busiest airport in 2022. With over 2.2 million passengers forecast for the full year of 2022, Cork Airport is well on track to becoming the first state airport to recover passenger traffic to pre-pandemic traffic levels [of 2.6 million in 2019].

 

Upon arriving at Cork Airport this Christmas, passengers returning home or visitors staying with family and friends can expect a warm, festive welcome. With the terminal building festooned in Christmas decorations, passengers will also experience one of the highlights of the Christmas programme at Cork Airport – choir performances in the Arrivals area. Between now and Christmas Eve, over 1,000 performers ranging from local school children to orchestral ensembles will take to the specially constructed Christmas stage in the Arrivals area at Cork Airport. 

 

Looking forward to the busy festive travel period, Managing Director at Cork Airport, Niall MacCarthy said:

 

“Christmas is our favourite time of the year amongst airport staff. We see homecoming passengers, many coming back for the first time since 2019 and some even longer, reuniting with mothers, fathers, families, and friends. Lots of Irish residents like to fly out to sun destinations to “warm up” over Christmas and of course, some of our newer residents return to their respective home countries for Christmas to be with their own families. Whatever type of passenger you are, our staff will do their utmost to make your journey smooth, pleasant and “delay free”.

 

Passengers intending to travel over the festive period are advised to allow sufficient time for a pleasant airport experience and to heed a few important travel tips:

• Arrive at Cork Airport between 90 minutes and 2 hours before a flight is due to depart and allow appropriate time if checking-in a bag at the airport. Passengers at Cork Airport clear security quickly and efficiently with 95% of passengers clearing security in less than 15 minutes and 99% in less than 20 minutes.
• Refer to our website corkairport.com for helpful tips on how to prepare for security screening.
• If travelling with gifts or presents, passengers are advised not wrap them as they may be subject to an inspection by security personnel at the passenger security screening area.
• Christmas crackers are not permitted to be taken onboard an aircraft.

 

For up-to-date and real time information on arrivals and departures at Cork Airport, passengers are encouraged to refer to our website corkairport.com or to use our handy, WhatsApp flight information feature, the link to which is readily available on our arrivals and departures pages.