Passengers to pay for €1.2bn airport upgrade

LONG-SUFFERING passengers will have to pay for the expansion of the country’s main airport after plans for a new terminal were unveiled without any funding in place.

Management at chronically congested Dublin Airport warned the ambitious 10-year expansion plan, costing €1.2 billion, would not go ahead without a 50% increase in airport charges - from a rate of €5 to €7.50 per passenger.

Commissioner for Aviation Regulation Bill Prasifka is due to make a decision by October 1 on whether to approve the DAA’s application for the increase, which would almost inevitably be passed from airlines to their passengers.

DAA chief executive Declan Collier said: “The critical message here is that the regulator’s decision on October 1 will fundamentally shape the passenger’s experience of Dublin Airport for generations to come.”

DAA chairman Gary McGann was more blunt in his synopsis.

“What you are looking at today will not go ahead if we do not get the rise,” he said. “You can not have your cake and eat it too.”

Yesterday’s unveiling confirmed the location and extent of new airport facilities after several years of internal wrangling in Government and rows among air industry interests over what should be built and where.

As well as easing existing congestion in the airport, the new facilities will allow for an increase in passenger numbers from 18.5 million per year to 30 million by 2015. A completely new second terminal is the main feature of the plan and is to be built by 2009, south of the existing terminal partly on the site of Corballis House and partly in the open air area used by car rental companies.

Prior to that, however, the DAA intends building a new coach park in 2006 and Pier D - a new line of departure gates - in 2007.

Terminal 1, the existing terminal, is to be extended in 2007-2008 and Terminal 2 plus another new pier, Pier E, are to follow in 2009. An extension to existing Pier B is planned for 2010-2011. A major new road network would have to be developed as well.

The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation welcomed the news but Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, who had his own proposal to build Pier D as a commercial venture at no public cost, threatened to block the development at planning stage in the courts.

Mr O’Leary said the plans were drawn up without consultation and required an “excessive” budget.