Aer Lingus to Require Passports on Flights Between Ireland and Great Britain

Aer Lingus will begin requiring all passengers, including Irish and British citizens, to present a valid passport or Irish passport card for travel between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, starting February 25, 2026. This change aligns Aer Lingus with Ryanair’s existing policy and marks a shift from the airline’s previous acceptance of a wider range of photo identification.

Common Travel Area and the Fresh Policy

The Common Travel Area (CTA), established in 1923, allows citizens of the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands to travel freely between those locations without a passport. Despite the Irish government stating no passport requirement within the CTA, Aer Lingus is implementing the new rule for all its flights and Aer Lingus Regional services between the Republic of Ireland and the UK.

Previously, Aer Lingus accepted forms of photo ID such as bus passes, function ID cards, and international student cards. These will no longer be valid for travel.

Exemptions and British Airways

Passengers traveling on domestic Aer Lingus Regional services operated by Emerald Airlines are exempt from this new policy. This includes routes such as Belfast-UK and Dublin-Donegal.

British Airways, Aer Lingus’s sister airline, will continue to allow passengers to travel without passports on its London City and Heathrow to Dublin routes, accepting recognized photographic identification to prove identity and nationality. However, passengers who book Aer Lingus flights through the British Airways website (ba.com) should be aware of the passport requirement, as it may not be explicitly stated during the booking process.

Potential Issues and Passenger Awareness

The change in policy may cause confusion for passengers accustomed to using alternative forms of identification. Aer Lingus advises all travelers to ensure they have a valid passport or Irish passport card before their flight to avoid travel disruptions.

Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport Passenger Cap Dispute

Separately, Aer Lingus is facing pressure from US airlines regarding the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. Airlines for America (A4A) is seeking restrictions on Aer Lingus flights to the US if the 32 million passenger limit remains in place. The US airlines argue the cap breaches EU-North American air travel treaties and could lead to limitations on Irish airlines’ access to US airports.

The Irish government is facing increasing pressure to lift the cap to avoid potential sanctions from the US Department of Transportation. A4A suggests the government has only a few months to act.