It will be the quietest Christmas the airport has ever seen.

An estimated 13,000 people are due to travel through Cork Airport this Christmas compared to almost 119,000 people in 2019.

Half of these, about 6,500 passengers will be arrivals passing through Cork Airport for the Christmas and New Year season.

Next week, beginning Monday, December 14th, an initial 1,600 passengers will arrive home, with this number expected to double to 3,200 the following week. A further 1,600 passengers will arrive back through Cork Airport before New Year’s Eve.

If you’re one of the limited number of arrivals this year, the airport has issued a reminder that things will be a little different this year.

1. Welcome friends and family outside the terminal

In line with Irish Government guidelines and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines, to help maintain social distancing, access to the terminals is limited to passengers, crew and airport staff. Anyone planning to collect passengers should arrange to meet them outside the terminal building and drivers should park in the car parks and not wait in the set down area in front of the terminal.

2. Face masks are non-negotiable

Face masks or coverings must be worn when in the airport terminal, onboard the aircraft and until you’ve reached your final destination. Passengers are reminded to observe social distancing rules and use the hand sanitiser stations and dispensers located throughout the airport terminal.

3. Arriving passengers should complete a Passenger Locator Form.

This form is available online and should be completed in advance of arriving in Ireland. Passengers should also familiarise themselves with the EU traffic light system and the current Irish Government guidelines in relation to travel available at gov.ie and dfa.ie.

4. Leave gift wrapping until later 

If you are planning to bring Christmas gifts by air this festive season Cork Airport is asking passengers not to gift wrap presents and to consider using an open gift bag instead. Passengers may be asked to open them at the passenger security screening area.

5. The choirs are cancelled 

Unfortunately, Cork Airport is unable to host Children’s Choirs for the first time in many years as part of its normal Christmas music programme this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

6. Cork Airport will close on Christmas Day

It’s the only day of the year on which the Aiport closes for scheduled flights each year – however, some staff members will remain on duty that day, including the airport’s emergency Fire Service and Airport Police personnel and Airport Duty Manager.

“Cork Airport will experience one of the quietist Christmases in decades this year with just 11% of normal passengers levels,” said Cork Airport Head of Communications, Kevin Cullinane.

“We have just five routes operating this Christmas (London Heathrow with Aer Lingus; Amsterdam with KLM; and London Stansted, Gdansk and Katowice with Ryanair) compared to thirty-two routes last year.

“We would remind passengers and those meeting and greeting them at Cork Airport to comply fully with all COVID-19 guidelines throughout their entire journey through Cork Airport,”