BBCIt is the most wonderful time of the year to work at an airport, according to the managing director of City of Derry Airport.
Steve Frazer is gearing up for a busy weekend as people arrive home for Christmas.
Thousands of people are expected to pass through Northern Ireland's airports this weekend as people travel home for Christmas.
“We see everything from Santas to Grinches and family pets brought to the airport to welcome people home for Christmas,” he told BBC News NI.
“Hugs and kisses everywhere – it is really lovely to see.”
Deirdre Mahon took the family pet dog, Skye, to wait for her son's arrival.
“I'm so excited to see him as he's here for Christmas and will be staying until the 30th,” she said.
“And my daughter Eimear is back from Brighton on Monday so it'll be a lovely family Christmas.
“It's been a tough year as I lost my husband Mark in April. It's an emotional time for all of us but we are determined to have a great Christmas because that's what Mark would have wanted.”
Kate McConnell and her boyfriend have travelled from Austin, Texas.
Following the 15-hour journey, she said she received the the “warmest welcome” in the airport.
She said: “I only get to see Aoife, my dear cousin, every two years or so, it was a warm welcome and it brings me to tears every time we come back together.”
It is her boyfriend's first time in the city.
Zhenhua Pavetti admitted he may struggle with the Derry accent but is looking forward to watching Derry Girls while he is here.
“I am in a completely different world right now, but I am excited,” he said.
Sinead Kelly and her husband Malachy have arrived from Dubai with their 11-week-old baby.
Grandparents Jack and Bernadette Scott ran to them as they entered the arrivals area.
“We are glad to be in our home city and we have no more travelling to do, and we have our taxi drivers here to take us home,” Sinead said.
BBC reporter Kevin Sharkey is at Belfast City Airport
The piano man played Christmas songs as passengers arrived at Belfast City Airport on their way home for Christmas.
Workers and students were among those arriving from different parts of the UK to spend Christmas with family on both sides of the border.
Some of those arriving this morning had just completed the last leg of long haul journeys from different parts of the world.
A choir continued to set the tone as passengers laden with luggage and Christmas boxes were greeted by relatives and friends.
It is set to be the busiest day in the run up to Christmas at Dublin Airport with about 93,000 passengers due to travel through the terminals.
In total, the airport will welcome about 1.4m passengers this festive season.
Allow Twitter content?
