Dublin Airport 'must plan for 50 million passengers'
Chambers Ireland’s Air Transport Users’ Council (ATUC) has today welcomed Fingal County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a second terminal at Dublin Airport.
The aviation body warned however that this increased capacity will be quickly filled.
The body said the Dublin Airport Authority must immediately plan for additional capacity of up to 50 million passengers.
Chair of Chambers Ireland’s ATUC Dan Loughrey said: "Dublin Airport has already reached its capacity of over 20 million passengers and this development will cater for the short term increase of up to 35 million.
"As the skies over Europe become ever more congested, Dublin Airport has great potential to become a hub for intercontinental traffic.
"Long haul planes use vast amounts of fuel when forced to circle at low altitudes waiting to land at busy European hubs. With extra capacity, Dublin Airport, with its excellent connectivity to other continental European locations, should be ready to offer an alternative and exploit that opportunity," he said.
Chambers Ireland’s ATUC added that it awaits the decision of the Commission for Aviation Regulation regarding the proposed increases in landing charges to fund the expansion.
