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Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Aer Lingus now joining Ryanair in needing Passport to fly from Ireland to UK

  • 06-02-2026 10:32PM
    #1
    Andy From Sligo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,330 ✭✭✭✭


    So the news today is that Aer Lingus will no longer accept the Irish Drivers licence as proof of Identity .

    I always used my Drivers Licence with Aer Lingus because I dont have a passport (UK or Irish) but now I will either have to get one or go ferry to UK or fly from Belfast .

    If thats the case now and have to get a passport there will be no need now for me to fly with Aer Lingus any more and will now fly with Ryanair from now on - so they have shot theirselves in the foot requiring a passport for people in my position (which maybe there is not much and its not an issue?)

    I mean its suppose to be a common travel area at the end of the day between UK and Ireland.

    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    89897
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 463 ✭✭89897


    I really dont think there are enough people travelling that dont have a passport so I dont see this making any tangible impact on their business.



  • #3
    Rocket_GD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,085 ✭✭✭Rocket_GD


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058432274/aer-lingus-now-joining-ryanair-in-needing-passport-to-fly-from-ireland-to-uk

    Ye I'd be in agreement with the other poster, the majority of people who travel (even to the UK) will have passports so it will make very little difference to Aer Lingus.



  • #4
    dennyk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,929 ✭✭✭dennyk


    It's due to the stricter verification requirements for the UK's ETA system that are coming in at the end of this month. Up until now the UK border officials have generally been letting people in anyway if they're from a non-visa-requiring country and show up at the border without an ETA, but as of 25 February 2026, that will no longer be permitted; all travelers who require one must have an ETA or they'll be turned away, no exceptions. It's on the airlines to make sure that every passenger who needs an ETA has one, or they get a hefty fine if they screw up and transport someone who doesn't have permission to enter the country and they get stopped at the border, so Aer Lingus needs to be certain a passenger has Irish or UK citizenship before letting them fly without an ETA, and a driving license alone doesn't prove that.



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