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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Anita McSorley & Emma Nevin

Dublin Airport security queues: What time to arrive before a flight and advice to avoid travel chaos

Passengers travelling through Dublin Airport have reported long queues in recent days.

Over the weekend, some annoyed holidaymakers said they queued for up to two hours as lines extended out of the Terminal building and towards the car park.

Dublin Airport has hired new security staff in recent weeks after queueing chaos caused long delays in March.

Read more: Dublin Airport job fears as industry faces 'tens of thousands' of jobs at risk

However, there appears to still be issues with queues at peak times and many passengers complained about hefty delays on Sunday.

One passenger told Dublin Live: "It’s crazy queues from the car park to get through security and people checking in downstairs can’t get upstairs.

"The queue going down the glass tunnel into the car park. Health and safety issue there. Looks like we’ll have to camp overnight to make our flights."

Comedian Dara O Briain was also travelling through Dublin Airport during the weekend and said it took around 70 minutes to get through security,

He said: “Even more insane queues trying to fly out of Dublin. Important to say though, Dublin Airport, you should be on your knees, thanking your staff for the patience and charm with which they are handling this mess you’ve put them in.

"In T2, it stretched out of the building into the car rental area, so probably over an hour, 70 mins, just to get through security. Obviously do online check-in and save yourself doing that queue too."

A spokesman for the daa told Dublin Live that it was a “busy weekend” and advised passengers to arrive at the airport with plenty of time before their flight.

Graeme McQueen said: "It was another busy weekend at Dublin Airport, but queues moved well at security screening. We thank passengers for continuing to work with us as we move further into the busy summer season and remind anyone travelling in the days and weeks ahead to arrive at the airport in plenty of time ahead of their flight.”

Dublin Airport travel advice

The Airport's most up-to-date travel advice urges passengers not to arrive any earlier than 2.5 hours before short-haul flights to Europe and the UK and 3.5 hours before long-haul flights.

Passengers on short-haul flights taking off after 8.30am are advised not to arrive earlier than 6am.

Where possible, passengers should check-in online in advance of travelling to the airport. Airline check-in desk and bag drop times vary, so passengers should contact their airline to confirm and plan their journey accordingly.

At the moment, peak times at security can occur in Terminal 1 between 5am to 8am for morning flights, and in Terminal 2 at 5am to 12 noon for morning and early afternoon flights. Terminal 1 has a second peak time at Security between 3pm to 7pm for evening flights. Weekends (especially bank holiday weekends) can be busy all day.

Passengers have also been asked not to arrive at Terminal 2 before 4am, when security opens.

Read more: New taxi scheme to encourage drivers taking late-night fares at Dublin Airport

Read more: Gorgeous places in Croatia, Bulgaria and Slovakia to reach from Dublin Airport

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