Plans for airport hotel and car park unveiled

A new hotel and multi-storey car park is to be built at Dublin Airport, it emerged today.

A total of 21 million passengers arrived and departed on 197,000 flights at the facility in 2006.

There are currently 18,000 long-term and 4,000 short-term car spaces at the airport, which is open 24 hours every day except on Christmas Day.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has invited tenders for a four-star or higher hotel and multi-storey car park offering direct access to Terminal 1 and the new Terminal 2 due to open in 2009.

A new Air Traffic Control Tower is also being built at Cork Airport.

The Irish Aviation Authority has invited tenders for the 430-square-metre single-storey building that will support the 71-square-metre octagonal tower.

Offices, an equipment room and a staff canteen are also included in the proposed plans.