Dublin Airport prepares to welcome 10,000 football fans as they travel for the World Cup
Eva Osborne
Dublin Airport has said it expects up to 10,000 football fans to pass through its terminals during the World Cup as they travel onward to host cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
While Ireland may not be on the pitch at this summer's World Cup, national teams from across the UK and Europe will be taking part.
Dublin Airport said it expects many Scottish and English fans to pass through on their way to the US, as well as fans from the Netherlands, Spain, and France.
Supporters travelling through Dublin Airport will be able to connect onwards to many of the cities hosting World Cup matches, including New York/New Jersey, Boston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Dublin Airport spokesperson, Graeme McQueen, said: “Ireland may not be competing at this summer’s World Cup, but Dublin Airport will still be helping fans get to the action.
"We are expecting thousands of football supporters from across the UK and continental Europe to connect through Dublin Airport on their way to support their teams, utilising the 200+ weekly flights to more than 20 cities in North America that Dublin Airport has to offer this summer, as well as our US Preclearance facilities, which enable passengers to complete US immigration and customs checks before departure, making arrival in the United States faster and more convenient.
“We're already starting to see fans heading stateside and the flow of passengers is set to pick up pace this week ahead of the tournament kicking off on June 11.
"In particular, we're expecting to see lots of Scottish and English fans heading to the US, as well as fans from the likes of the Netherlands, Spain and France.
"Last Saturday morning also saw Dublin Airport facilitate the departure of the Qatar national squad, who set off for Los Angeles aboard a special Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER aircraft adorned with a unique FIFA livery."
The large numbers heading to North America will help make this the busiest summer in Dublin Airport's history, with more than 11 million passengers set to travel through the airport between June and the end of August.
