Dublin airport landing charges to fall by 5%

Landing charges for airlines using Dublin Airport will fall by 5 per cent, it was announced this afternoon.

In a report published by the Commission for Aviation Regulation today, an anticipated overall increase in landing charges was granted for Cork and Shannon Airports to a maximum of £5.29 per passenger, or a 20 per cent rise.

However, landing charges at Dublin Airport will be subject to a separate maximum rate of £4.41 per passenger which is 5 per cent lower than the current figure.

The Commission criticised a development plan proposed by Aer Rianta, claiming it would not meet the needs of passengers.

As a result, nearly three-quarters of funding sought by the airport operator has been refused. Aer Rianta’s capital expenditure programme of £998 million has been reduced to £272 million.

Detailing their five-year plan on airport charges, the Commission stated that only this sum was justified in terms of developing cost-effective airports.

In his report, the Commissioner, Mr Bill Prasifka, criticised Aer Rianta for poor consultation with airport users, a lack of transparency, construction of inefficient facilities and inconsistencies in information provided to the Commission.

The Regulator also set a maximum £10-per-tonne charge for cargo.

Landing charges will be adjusted annually to take inflation into account.