Christmas

Noxegon

Random question... is Ireland the only country out there with no flights on Christmas Day?

I've noticed plenty of flights at places like Heathrow on December 25th...

highlydebased

Years ago when Centralwings (Polish airline) were around they used to fly into SNN and possibly DUB on Xmas day.

BonkeyDonker

I imagine there is simply not enough demand for the service(s). Without knowing a number I would imagine there is a critical mass of flights needed for the DAA to open the airport, or otherwise make the airlines pay the charges - which will put the airlines off.
Similiarly, the retailers/concession owners would want a certain footfall to make it worth their while opening - otherwise you could have a very empty airport.

EchoIndia

Dublin has never opened for flights on Christmas Day, that I can recall. Shannon does remain open for transit traffic and because of its importance as a diversion point for transatlantic traffic.

folbotcar

It opened a couple of times to take in delayed aircraft on Christmas day. But other than that it usually stayed closed. I don't know about now but usually the airspace over it reverted to class G. I knew a guy who would head over to the airport on Christmas day and perform aerobatics. Decathlon EI-BIV I seem to recall. But quite a few PPLs take advantage when the day is fine.

munchkin_utd

Noxegon wrote: »

Random question... is Ireland the only country out there with no flights on Christmas Day?

I've noticed plenty of flights at places like Heathrow on December 25th...

the difference on the continent at least is that many places have christmas eve as the family get together and present giving occasion, leaving christmas day as a leisure day / day to travel somewhere to take advantage of the bank holiday/ holiday period.

(not sure what the reasons for heathrow to be open are, possibly to do with many intercontinental flights operating there especially from countries which dont do christmas like many of the british colonys????)

LXFlyer

We do appear to be the only country in Western Europe without any flights on Christmas Day at this stage, but that is primarily an Irish cultural thing. Everything closes for Christmas Day. At some stage that may change (in terms of flights), but I suspect that it will take another 5-10 years before it does.

Across the water in the UK there is a greatly reduced number of flights, but there are no trains and in the vast majority of cities (including London) there are no buses either.

Last year each of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow in the UK all had departing and arriving flights on Christmas Day.

basill

I am not 100% convinced that DUB closes for the 25th. Yes there are no scheduled flights but I think from memory there are the bare minimum ATC services available for potential disruptions and to perhaps facilitate overflights of its airspace.

LXFlyer

basill wrote: »

I am not 100% convinced that DUB closes for the 25th. Yes there are no scheduled flights but I think from memory there are the bare minimum ATC services available for potential disruptions and to perhaps facilitate overflights of its airspace.

To be fair the question posed was whether there were any flights - not whether the airport was closed.


As you rightly point out they are two separate issues.

basill

basill wrote: »

I am not 100% convinced that DUB closes for the 25th. Yes there are no scheduled flights but I think from memory there are the bare minimum ATC services available for potential disruptions and to perhaps facilitate overflights of its airspace.

SAR cover only. Some flexibility in covering delayed flights. But post night 0700 it's SAR cover only.

Jamie2k9

It would take either FR or EI to demand DUB be open on Xmas for it to happen. Other airlines have asked before. If it was open pretty much all full service carriers at DUB would operate.

MojoRisinnnn

It's open Christmas Day I've a mate who works up there, seems to be some flights come in Christmas Day as far as I know

LXFlyer

MojoRisinnnn wrote: »

It's open Christmas Day I've a mate who works up there, seems to be some flights come in Christmas Day as far as I know

Once again - there are no scheduled arrivals/departures on Christmas Day.

The only exception would be a delayed flight from the evening before.

L1011

This actually creates a plot issue in a Joseph O Connor novel, where a character looking for company of Christmas Day goes to the airport...

BuffyBot

If you look at the Heathrow flights, the majority are long haul flights. - essential, for positioning of aircraft and crew. Many short haul ops don't run.

Dublin, in contrast, doesn't have the same balance of long haul/short haul ops.

MojoRisinnnn

lxflyer wrote: »

Once again - there are no scheduled arrivals/departures on Christmas Day.

The only exception would be a delayed flight from the evening before.

Yeah those can fall into the 'some flights' category

LXFlyer

MojoRisinnnn wrote: »

Yeah those can fall into the 'some flights' category

The point is there are no scheduled flights on that day. There is quite a difference.

Stovepipe

The airport closes at 0100 Christmas morning and reopens at midnight. The Police will lock up and close the gates. There will be no fire cover for aircraft movements, so nothing will move. No aircraft will be admitted or will leave within those times, unless the SAR heli is called out.That's how it's done.

regards
Stovepipe

martinsvi

folbotcar wrote: »

I don't know about now but usually the airspace over it reverted to class G. (...) But quite a few PPLs take advantage when the day is fine.

anyone got any more details on this? Like a NOTAM or something? wouldn't mind my self trying that stunning looking approach over Howth...

jimbis

What would happen if an emergency occurs? No fire cover means it's a no no?
Shannon and Liverpool/Manchester aren't far when you take in to account it'll only be high level flights operating but say worst case scenario and they could only make dublin, would there be atc there to give permission or is it just a case of forget dub is there for the few hours

Alaba320

Stovepipe wrote: »

The airport closes at 0100 Christmas morning and reopens at midnight. The Police will lock up and close the gates. There will be no fire cover for aircraft movements, so nothing will move. No aircraft will be admitted or will leave within those times, unless the SAR heli is called out.That's how it's done.

regards
Stovepipe

The airport fire service are on duty on Xmas day so there is fire cover and the airfield category remains the same as any other day. Airport police are on duty and a number of Gardai man the passport control area. And if memory serves me correct the DAA electricans and plumbers are there also.

The handling agent I worked for handled the Emirates and Etihad (at the time) and we were told it was only a matter of time before the start flying on Xmas day.

lord lucan

Alaba320 wrote: »

The handling agent I worked for handled the Emirates and Etihad (at the time) and we were told it was only a matter of time before the start flying on Xmas day.

I think it's still a good while away yet tbh. It's not just about the airport opening on Xmas day but the fact that there's no buses or trains,and taxis charge exorbitant rates on Xmas day. You'd have staff who don't drive paying nearly a days wages to get in and get out,let alone travelling pax. It would require a huge change in how people view Xmas. Would DB be willing to shell out on massive overtime to get drivers to drive on the day? Would taxi drivers be willing to drop their rate on Xmas day?

The airport itself is only closed for what is really a matter of hours. I'm biased because I work in the airport and the fact that we at least get the day off is some consolation for working shift all over Xmas whilst many of my mates get 3 or 4 days off.

L1011

lord lucan wrote: »

Would DB be willing to shell out on massive overtime to get drivers to drive on the day?

CIE services ran in Dublin in the past; and were quite popular particularly the ones serving graveyards.

LXFlyer

MYOB wrote: »

CIE services ran in Dublin in the past; and were quite popular particularly the ones serving graveyards.

To be fair it's not just Dublin - TfL run no buses or trains in London on Christmas Day.

Strumms

lord lucan wrote: »

I think it's still a good while away yet tbh. It's not just about the airport opening on Xmas day but the fact that there's no buses or trains,and taxis charge exorbitant rates on Xmas day. You'd have staff who don't drive paying nearly a days wages to get in and get out,let alone travelling pax. It would require a huge change in how people view Xmas. Would DB be willing to shell out on massive overtime to get drivers to drive on the day? Would taxi drivers be willing to drop their rate on Xmas day?

The airport itself is only closed for what is really a matter of hours. I'm biased because I work in the airport and the fact that we at least get the day off is some consolation for working shift all over Xmas whilst many of my mates get 3 or 4 days off.

I'm with you.. Happy to see it closed although unlikely I'd ever need to be working due to the nature of my job there. There are many people across the whole spectrum employed at the airport who work full flat out, all sorts of unsociable shifts leading up to Christmas Day and it's good that they can at least take a break and enjoy the days that's in it with their families. I really don't see a demand for that to change at all.

Tenger

Strumms wrote: »

I'm with you.. Happy to see it closed although unlikely I'd ever need to be working due to the nature of my job there. There are many people across the whole spectrum employed at the airport who work full flat out, all sorts of unsociable shifts leading up to Christmas Day and it's good that they can at least take a break and enjoy the days that's in it with their families. I really don't see a demand for that to change at all.

Indeed. Had a ****e Xmas about 6 years ago. Finished at 2300 on the 24th, back in at 0630 on 26th. Legally is was fine as I had over 31 hours turnaround. Nice

L1011

Tenger wrote: »

Indeed. Had a ****e Xmas about 6 years ago. Finished at 2300 on the 24th, back in at 0630 on 26th. Legally is was fine as I had over 31 hours turnaround. Nice

Have done similar in my media and med sector jobs, think you can be that shat-upon as soon as you go outside the 9-5 office job sector really.

I'm theoretically on call all Christmas and all New Year but luckily my current role means that taking a taxi in half-cut on the company account is perfectly acceptable once I don't electrocute myself. Just can't go more than about 30 miles from the city centre.

fr336

Got to love how even one 24 hour period in a whole year still is too much time for an airport to take off! Even without the religious aspect, which is becoming increasingly irrelevant especially outside of Ireland, I personally find it quite nice for a country to shut down for just ONE day of the year. As mentioned Heathrow is still up and running as are others around the UK, however as also mentioned buses and trains are completely wiped out even in London. A great day for touring there if you have a car.

Noxegon

fr336 wrote: »

Got to love how even one 24 hour period in a whole year still is too much time for an airport to take off!

Or, looking at it another way, you got to love how Irish airport staff get a day off that (AFAIK) no other airport staff in western Europe get - and go up in arms at the thought that might change.

For what it's worth, my previous job required that I work on bank holidays without additional pay, but this wasn't a big deal for me at all; I got the time in lieu. I was quite happy to have those nine days added to my annual leave