Katy Best, Commercial and Marketing Director at George Best Belfast City Airport, said: “The festive period is always a busy time at Belfast City Airport and this year is no exception. Each day between now and Christmas we will welcome approximately 10,000 passengers through the airport, with the 21st, 22nd and 23rd December expected to be the busiest days.
“We have extra staff on hand to make sure everyone’s journey is as smooth as possible including present wrapping stations within the security area.
“Pupils from our adopted schools were invited in to officially turn on our Christmas lights and choirs have been in the terminal entertaining passengers throughout the festive season. As a partner of Age NI’s No One Should Have No One at Christmas campaign, we also hosted a coffee morning for our friends from Age NI who enjoyed listening to the choirs and getting into the Christmas spirit with a visit from Santa and his elves!
“Many passengers from destinations such as Australia, America and Asia will be connecting to Belfast City through hubs such as Amsterdam, Manchester and London Heathrow, to which we are Northern Ireland’s only connection.
“2017 has been a great year at Belfast City Airport with the introduction of several new routes, including Reykjavik with Icelandair, and increased frequencies across our domestic route network with Flybe. The airport was also named Business in the Community’s ‘Responsible Company of the Year’ for 2017 which was a real honour and testament to the work we do to support the environment and our local community.”
Meanwhile, Belfast International Airport says it will top 125,000 passengers during the Christmas rush with Friday expected to be the busiest day with well over 100 arriving and departing aircraft.
Scheduled services from 10 GB destinations will account for the bulk of the passengers with people heading home for Christmas with their families.
Airport Operations Director, Alan Whiteside, said: “Christmas is always a busy time for us, and this year won’t be any different.
“This Friday will be hectic with almost 20,000 passengers coming through our Arrivals Hall. Saturday, too, will be exceptional, but we are also expecting a spike on Christmas Eve before things quieten down.
“Then, after Boxing Day, activity ratchets back up for the big New Year ‘exodus’ with people flying out after the break and families taking off for a skiing or sunshine holiday.
“The Terminal is a welcoming place for people coming home. For many of them, coming through Arrivals can be emotional as they are re-united with family and friends.
“We will have people travelling great distances to be in Northern Ireland this Christmas. Whole families turn up to welcome home their loved ones, and it is a heart-warming sight.
“The Christmas Week rush is now underway in earnest and between now and Christmas Eve on Sunday, we expect to accommodate in the region of 125,000 passengers.
“Given that the Terminal is so busy this week, we would ask passengers and to give themselves extra time to get to the airport and to be processed through security to our Airside facilities and Departure Gates.”
