‘Congestion damaging competitiveness’

FORFÁS, the State training and innovation agency, has said congestion and overcrowding at Dublin Airport are damaging the country’s competitiveness.

The agency is pressing for the €1.2 billion capital development plan at the airport — which will see a new terminal (T2) and runway built — to get underway immediately.

“The relatively poor quality of Ireland’s, and Dublin’s, air transport infrastructure is of major concern from an enterprise development and national competitiveness perspective.”

That view is backed by the IDA, who presented the view of the two State agencies at a meeting with the head of the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) Cathal Guiomard late last month.

The Forfás submission to the regulator on airport charges at Dublin Airport, also makes it clear that passengers of both terminals should bear the cost of paying for the new facilities.

It says that once built, users of the second terminal should face “differential pricing”, with passengers paying higher charges than those using the existing facility.

The submission added: “It is important that T2 is designed to future proof the infrastructure to accommodate the new super-jet, the A380, as well as providing facilities so that Dublin Airport has the capability to act as a hub for existing and potential new air carriers.”