THE planned expansion of Dublin Airport must be urgently completed as it is a vital link in the future growth of the tourism industry, it was warned yesterday.

PLANS for a new terminal at Dublin Airport were thrown into disarray last night after the aviation regulator refused to hike passenger charges by 50% to pay for the facility.

THE Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is seeking an urgent review of airport charges following the decision by the aviation regulator to turn down a request for a 50% rise in passenger fees.

BOARD members at Cork Airport have been snubbed by the body appointed to investigate the airport’s multi-million euro debt controversy.

A PROPOSAL on partial privatisation of Aer Lingus, a second terminal at Dublin Airport and the end of the Shannon stopover will be brought to Cabinet by Transport Minister Martin Cullen today.

THE Dublin Airport Authority has dropped its legal challenge against the Commission for Aviation Regulator over landing charges at the airport.

BOSSES at Cork Airport defended their controversial new €160 million terminal building yesterday following criticism from airport operators that the old building had better facilities and is more user-friendly.

CORK’S Lord Mayor demanded a clear statement from the Transport Minister last night on the potentially crippling debt issue facing the city’s airport.

THE Progressive Democrats will not pull the plug on the coalition Government over the split on the second terminal at Dublin Airport, Tánaiste Mary Harney insisted yesterday.

WE fully support your editorial (Irish Examiner, February 13) which highlighted the fact that a €160 million (or an €80m) debt, if imposed, would cripple Cork airport for decades.

CORK Airport’s new multi-million passenger terminal is likely to miss its May 10 opening date and instead open in the hectic summer season.

THE embarrassing political impasse between the Coalition partners over a second terminal for Dublin Airport showed no sign of being resolved yesterday as yet another Cabinet meeting came and went without a decision being reached.

CORK Airport Authority could be landed with debts of €80 million as the Government prepares to row back on a commitment to leave the new authority debt-free.

UNIONS at Dublin Airport last night threatened strike action within a week if management don’t commit to existing agreements on hiring new staff.

CONSTRUCTION firm Laing O’Rourke has been chosen to build a new pier at Dublin Airport.

SMALL business group ISME has said the Government must ensure that any new terminal at Dublin Airport is run by an independent operator.

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen is refusing to say when he believes the row over the €160 million debt for Cork Airport's new terminal will be resolved.

PASSENGERS at Dublin Airport will face a substantial hike in the €5 charge they pay no matter who develops the second terminal, Dublin Airport Authority’s new chief executive David Collier warned yesterday.