Business as usual for Irish airports

It was business as usual in Irish airports today despite thousands of passengers facing stringent security checks.

Around 80,000 travellers were expected through Dublin Airport, with airlines reporting little or no delays.

Extensive screening of passengers and baggage was currently taking place, and no hand baggage is permitted on board aircraft travelling to Heathrow Airport and the US.

Only essential travel documents, pocket-sized wallets and prescribed medicines can be taken on board. No liquids – including alcohol, perfume or drinks – are allowed.

Exceptions will be made for baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby of small child is travelling.

The same strict measures were placed on travellers returning from any UK airport.

Twenty-four people were being questioned by anti-terrorism police in the UK. It is alleged they aimed to destroy up to 10 passenger jets in mid-air. The targets were flights leaving UK airports to the US.

Thousands of passengers were affected by yesterday’s major disruptions. Almost 40 services to and from Dublin were cancelled with around 6,000 passengers stranded.

A spokeswoman for Dublin Airport Authority said it was back to business as usual today.

“We don’t expect any cancellations,” said Dick Butler of Aer Lingus. “Our first flight from Dublin left on time this morning. There were slight delays coming out on the first flight from Heathrow because of security issues there. We also expect delays on our Shannon service coming from Heathrow as well.

“Otherwise passengers should turn up on time and we will run a full schedule. With the exception of new regulations that came in yesterday morning, people are passing through security OK.

“For how long that security alert is going to last I don’t know, it’s up to the security agencies, but I feel it won’t change for the next couple of weeks or months and people should be prepared for that.”

All airlines were warning passengers to expect stricter security checks and recommend that hand baggage be kept to a minimum and to allow extra time to reach the airport and to clear security.

No electrical or battery powered items including laptops, mobile phones, iPods or remote controls can be carried in the cabin.

A number of Ryanair flights from London Stansted were cancelled today, with delays expected on other services. Customers can rebook flights online free of charge.

Bad weather on the east coast of the US last night was blamed on delays on incoming flights to Dublin and Shannon. Residents collecting passenger from JFK and Chicago flights were warned to expect delays of between one to three hours.

Peter Sherrard, head of communications for Ryanair, said the airline’s 102 routes from Ireland today are all operating as scheduled, but there are some delays going into London.

“The majority of our UK routes are operating as scheduled with some delays as a result of the requirement from the UK Department of Transport to avoid carrying hand luggage on aircraft,” he said.

“Worst affected at the moment is Stansted, which is currently operating to around 80% capacity, so there have been nearly 20 cancellations from there this morning. Only one of those is coming to Dublin.”

Mr Sherrard said no guidelines had yet been issues to airlines on how long increased security measures will remain in place.

“There are a lot of security experts talking at the moment, saying this is going to radically change aviation, but I don’t think that will be the case,” he said.

“If you look at September 11, people have continued flying after that and people will continue to fly after this too.

“It is probably a temporary measure that will last three to four days and it should come back to normal within a week or two, but there may be some changes to the hang luggage requirements and what people can carry on aircraft.”