Dublin Airport to close T1 car park for upgrade

Dublin Airport is to refurbish its Terminal 1 car park in a move that is expected to add some 20 minutes to the amount of time it currently takes users of the short-term car park to get from car to terminal building.

It is closing its short-term Block A car park during July and August, with blocks B and C closing on a rolling basis over the next six months.

When the works get under way a number of motorists will be redirected to the Express Red Car Park located between the old Swords Road and the M1 motorway.

The Dublin Airport Authority has said bus journey times between the terminal building and this car park are five minutes, and buses operate every 15 minutes.

Passengers have been asked to ensure they have allocated enough time to complete their journeys.

Brighter finish
According to the authority, the refurbishment includes a "significant investment" in facilities.

Works are to include a brighter finish to match that of Terminal 2, with brighter lighting, smarter entry and exit points, new direction signs and better differentiation between floors.

The changes are designed to make parking at Terminal 1 “an easier and more pleasant experience”, says the authority.

Closures of sections of the Terminal 1 car park will start with Block A, which contains about 400 spaces.

The authority has recommended that any customer wishing to park in short-term for more than one week should relocate to the Express Red Car Park.

Car-parking fees
The airport authority has also warned it may have to increase car parking fees for short-term parking when the vehicle is left for more than one week as a demand-management measure.

Further parking is available at the airport in a range of options from the executive parking area where it costs €4,000 per car per year, and the long-term holiday car park where it is available from about €4.95 per day when booked online.

Short term “drive-up” rates range from €4.50 for the first hour to a maximum of €40 per day.

Online rates for short-term parking are currently available at about €25 per day.

The Dublin Airport Authority does not disclose the financial contribution it gains from car parking charges in its annual accounts.

Given that there are some 14,400 long-term parking spaces and some 3,600 spaces available, the income is estimated in the region of €100 million per year.