THE CHRISTMAS SEASON is kicking off today at Dublin Airport with almost 80,000 people set to arrive or depart through both terminals.

Family and friends will be out in force to greet loved ones returning home for the holidays, with Dublin Airport saying that the numbers travelling are up 18% on last year.

In total, 925,000 passengers are expected to pass through Dublin Airport between today and the first of January.

The halls of arrivals and departures have been decked with 90,000 led lights, over 100 Christmas trees and 500 snowflakes to welcome home Irish people from far and near.

There will also be school choirs present singing Christmas carols to really drive home that festive cheer.

Wonderful

“If  people are coming out to the airport today or over the next week we’d say to bring the tissues with you because it’s… really special this time of year,” airport spokesperson Siobhán O’Donnell told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today.

“It’s just a fabulous place here when people are coming through and you can see those wonderful scenes.”

There will be plenty of warm family welcomes on display over the next few days at Dublin Airport as thousands of people make their way home for Christmas.

Read: Hugs, kisses and silly hats: Warm scenes of homecomings at Dublin Airport