THERE were tears of joy and hugs and kisses aplenty at Belfast City Airport yesterday as family members were reunited for Christmas.
On one of the airport’s busiest days of the year, with 10,000 passengers expected to pass through yesterday alone, people waited in excited anticipation, hoping for the first glimpse of loved ones as they emerged through the crowds.
Small children ran through the arrivals gates into the open arms of waiting grandparents, while two sisters held each other tightly and cried.
Co Donegal woman Leanne Doherty embraced her sister Olette Gummer as the siblings met for the first time in 12 months.
Mrs Gummer, who moved to Darwin, Australia, four years ago, arrived at the airport from London with her husband and four-year-old daughter Emily on the final leg of a long journey from the other side of the globe.
Wiping away tears, Mrs Gummer said she was more than happy to swap 36ºc heat for the slightly milder temperatures of her home town of Letterkenny.
Mrs Gummer said: "We haven’t seen each other since last Christmas. We try and make the trip every Christmas and we’ll be here for two weeks."
She added: "I miss a few things from home, but especially the cold air, the real fires and the green fields."
Her sister replied: "We’re not going to let them go back!"
Four-year-old Emily, who was born in Derry, nodded and smiled when asked if she refers to Ireland as her "second home."
Emily told the Irish News she remains hopeful that Santa will pass through Letterkenny later this week, but was quickly reminded by her mum and aunt that Santa always views the coming days as critical in assessing behaviour this year.
Brian Ambrose, CEO of the City Airport, said that there was a "great buzz about the place."
He said: "We are looking at record numbers today, exceeding 10,000, and that will be right through until Christmas Eve. All the flights are full, and it comes after a great weekend with the Sports Personality of the Year, when we had the winner Andy Murray coming through the airport."
