Airlines face fines if they ignore laws proposed to avoid flight congestion

AIRLINES using Dublin Airport are set to face large fines if they do not adhere to proposed changes in how take-offs and landings of flights are operated.

An expected change in the airport’s status this summer could result in airlines facing a €5,000 fine for every flight which fails to take off within a designated time period.

The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) is expected to announce shortly that Dublin Airport will be designated a “slot co-ordinated airport” in order to avert the threat of major congestion and flight delays over the summer.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) recently warned that almost 5% of scheduled flights this summer have not been allocated an official departure time slot.

Aviation Regulation Commissioner Cathal Guiomard said a decision will be made within the next few weeks on Dublin Airport’s status but declined to comment on the likely outcome. However, it is widely believed the airport will be designated as a co-ordinated facility.

Under EU legislation, airlines which fail to comply with their departure times at slot co-ordinated airports are liable for large fines.

The CAR recommended last year that airlines should pay a €5,000 penalty for non-compliance with its slots. In Spain, airlines face penalties ranging from €3,000-€30,000 per flight for not using their designated operating slots. Similar offences by airlines in Portugal can incur fines up to €250,000.

Under its existing “schedules facilitated” status, slots for departures and arrivals at Dublin Airport are agreed between the airlines with a British company, ACL, acting as a facilitator.

However, airlines reject about 7% of all flight adjustments proposed by ACL, with Ryanair accounting for the majority of such refusals.

A DAA spokesperson said such a high level of refusals had a significant effect on the airport’s operation, particularly at peak daytime periods. “There will be problems at Dublin Airport this summer unless the airport becomes a coordinated facility. Dublin is the only major airport of its size in Europe that still has not been switched to a coordinated status.”

A recent CAR-commissioned study highlighted that congestion on the airport’s main runway plus a lack of stands for aircraft — rather than congestion in the main terminal building — were likely to cause “unacceptable levels of delay and congestion” this summer.

However, the CAR confirmed there was no system of fines in place last year. It is understood legislation will be required before the CAR can impose such penalties on airlines.

Passengers on flights which attempt to operate without an official slot are likely to face difficulties as information notices will only contain details about flights with approved slots.