Ryanair boss vows to terminate €750m ‘T2’ at Dublin airport

RYANAIR has accused the Dublin Airport Authority of “monopoly abuse” over its plans to press ahead with a controversial second terminal at Dublin Airport.

The airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary warned yesterday that Ryanair would consider all avenues of appeal to prevent the construction of such “a grossly inefficient, gold-plated facility.”

The estimated cost of the new terminal which will be known as T2 is €757.2 million, although Ryanair maintains the final figure is likely to reach €842m.

Mr O’Leary made his remarks yesterday during a press briefing for Irish journalists on a visit to two German airports, Frankfurt-Hahn and Bremen.

He claimed new and planned terminals at both airports, being built for a fraction of the projected cost of T2, highlighted the major cost inefficiencies of the DAA’s operations.

Mr O’Leary said Frankfurt-Hahn airport was in the process of building a new terminal that would cater for 5.5m passengers per annum at a cost of just €21m.

A €10.4m second terminal at Bremen, being funded by Ryanair, will cater for three million passengers each year. Mr O’Leary said the new terminal at Cork Airport, which will cater for similar traffic, cost €200m.

“Simple, efficient facilities like those at Frankfurt-Hahn and Bremen, which make it quick for passengers to get on and off planes, are what are needed at Dublin,” said Mr O’Leary.

Ryanair will be one of a number of objectors opposing the granting of planning permission for the new terminal at an oral hearing of An Bord Pleanála, which begins next Monday.

Mr O’Leary said the company was prepared to challenge the construction of T2 to the European Court of Justice if necessary.

Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus have indicated their reluctance to use the new facility if it results in higher charges for passengers.

The Commission for Aviation Regulation is currently deliberating over a revised scheme of charges at Dublin Airport following the publication of the DAA’s capital investment programme, including T2.

Last night, a DAA spokesperson said the comparison between Dublin airport and Frankfurt-Hahn or Bremen airports was “totally meaningless.”

“Dublin Airport is a major capital city airport and a key economic gateway for Ireland. It is comparable to other large European airports such as Copenhagen, Zurich and Oslo. Comparing it to minor regional airports is like comparing Arsenal to Accrington Stanley,” he remarked.