Airport staying open until last flights in

CHRISTMAS TRAVEL:AIRLINE passengers travelling today, Christmas Eve, face a quandary unique to the season – what to do if they are still stranded when the airport closes tomorrow. Dublin Airport, like most airports around the world, only ever closes on Christmas Day. It re-opens early on St Stephen's Day.

Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus are focusing on getting all passengers into and out of Dublin airport by, at the latest, early Christmas morning, meaning 4am/5am. Some time today a decision will be made whether or not to extend the period during which the airport is open.

“The decision will be made in consultation with the airlines,” a spokesman for DAA said. “The operators may continue right through the night and we will stay open until the last flights are in.”

However, a DAA spokesman said yesterday that it would let passengers stay in the airport if they are completely stranded.

Ryanair does not envisage a situation in which people will be stuck in the airport at Christmas, spokesman Stephen McNamara said yesterday. It has unsold seats on its afternoon flights today, Christmas Eve, especially to the UK. It expects to get everyone home by early Christmas morning.

Getting to and from the airport could be a problem: Aircoach will provide a service – though possibly a limited one – for its customers while the airport is open.

Taxis should – but may not be – available at the airport until the last flight arrives. However, most radio cab companies operate services on Christmas Day, although many will be pre-booked.

Meanwhile airport hotels said that as of yesterday, they had capacity for last minute reservations. Travelodge Ireland said that its Dublin Airport North (Swords) and Dublin Airport South (Ballymun) hotels will remain open throughout Christmas. It has up to 300 rooms available from €39 per room, per night. The Radisson has rooms available from €109 per night.

Around 3,000 flights across Europe were cancelled on Tuesday alone this week, according to European air traffic control organisation Eurocontrol. Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair continued to put on extra – i.e., unscheduled – flights to get passengers to their destinations before Christmas Day.

Ryanair put on 14 extra flights on Tuesday and another 15 yesterday. An Aer Lingus spokesman said it had put on 16 extra flights on Thursday and more again on up to and including today.