200,000 set for Easter travel ... but sun's on way

Thu 5 Apr 2012 at 17:00

MORE than 200,000 holidaymakers are expected to travel through Dublin Airport over the Easter bank holiday.

Sun holidays and breaks in the countryside are the trips of choice, despite rising air fares and falling incomes.

The annual Easter exodus was getting into full swing, as families seek out a little spring sunshine in popular destinations like France, Spain and Portugal.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said this weekend, which marks the real start of the summer season, will see more than 213,000 passengers travel through the hub.

Capacity at the airport is up 4pc for the summer season, with more than half a million extra seats available this year. The country's highways and byways will also be choc-a-bloc as holidaymakers head off for a few days.

For the staycationers, Met Eireann says tomorrow will be cloudy with patchy rain but Saturday will be brighter with some sunny spells. However, many areas will stay cloudy with some patchy drizzle in places.

Highest temperatures are expected to hit 13 degrees, making it a good deal warmer than the past week, which has seen high winds and stormy weather -- bringing dramatic waves to the coast at Howth.

hnews@herald.ie