Travellers hoping for their first pint of Guinness on arrival at Dublin Airport were left disappointed earlier today when the airport's bars remained shut.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said the premises were closed after it terminated the licence to operate the outlets.
The company that had been running the eight bars, Atwell, is connected to the Thomas Read Group, which is currently in receivership.
"The licence to operate the bars has now been issued to Cavtat, which was the preferred bidder during the Thomas Read examinership process earlier this year," the DAA said in a statement.
"The licence was issued to Cavtat on the basis that it best met the commercial criteria set down by the DAA."
It is believed that the new operator's investors include Thomas Anderson, who was previously part of a failed rescue plan for the Thomas Read Group and Donie Cassidy, who said to be a minority shareholder in the new venture.
The licence also covers a new bar and restaurant currently under construction at the airport.
A spokesman for the DAA said there was no issue of trespass, and that all appropriate procedures were followed.
The DAA said it was hopeful that the bars would reopen today.