Christmas arrives at Cork Airport to 'facilitate the reunions of thousands of families'

The festive spirit has officially touched down at Cork Airport as the Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Dan Boyle, switched on the airport’s Christmas lights on Friday.

Christmas decorations have been carefully installed throughout the building over the past number of weeks by the airport’s asset care team, with extensive preparations made to create a festive ambience for those travelling to and from the facility.

The arrivals area will be a flurry of activity this month as passengers will be greeted by one of the highlights of the annual Christmas programme — a live choir and additional music performances.

This year, more than 1,300 performers will take to the specially constructed Christmas stage in arrivals, including primary and secondary school children from across Cork city and county, local orchestral ensembles, traditional music groups, choral societies, and community choirs.

“As we face into a very busy festive season, Cork Airport is proud to facilitate the reunions of thousands of families this Christmas,” said Niall MacCarthy, managing director at Cork Airport.

“Our dedicated staff has worked tirelessly to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that everyone feels the magic of Christmas as soon as they arrive home in Cork.

“This year has been historic for Cork Airport, with record international passenger numbers, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with all our passengers.”

By the end of December, total passenger numbers at Cork Airport are expected to exceed the three million mark for this year, setting a new record for being the busiest year for international passenger traffic in the airport’s history.