Aer Rianta is set to provide a designated section at Dublin Airport for low-cost airlines, after a request from the Government yesterday that it be completed by next year. Mark Brennock, Political Correspondent, reports.
The new facility - to be "operational in good time for the 2003 season" - will provide a significant boost to low-cost carriers such as Ryanair. But the decision falls significantly short of the changes sought by Ryanair's chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary.
The Government, backed by the conclusions of an independent report into Irish aviation and tourism, has decided against allowing a private operator to run this new "rapid turnaround facility". It indicated a lack of sympathy with Ryanair's complaints about alleged high landing charges at Dublin.
The new facility is expected to give Ryanair, Easyjet and other low-cost carriers a quicker "no frills" service, but there is to be no difference in the landing charges. It is hoped, however, the new facility will boost tourist numbers.
"This will be a physical area into which low-cost flights on any airline, including Aer Lingus, will be able to access and exit quicker than in other parts of the airport," the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said last night.
Aer Rianta welcomed the report, by international aviation expert Prof Rigas Doganis, saying the company's board would consider it at its next meeting. However, while a Government statement yesterday suggested the new facility might be developed at the proposed "Pier D" which already has planning permission, Aer Rianta chairman Mr Noel Hanlon suggested the company might take a different option.
Pier D was designed in 1997, he said, and did not meet current security and immigration requirements. Ms O'Rourke indicated she was open to an alternative scheme.
The Government noted the view of Prof Doganis "that any suggestion of separating the management of one part of Dublin Airport from the rest was likely to create more problems than it would solve".
The Government drew attention to the view of Prof Doganis that the independent Commission for Aviation Regulation's determination of August last year "is quite demanding of Aer Rianta".
Last year the aviation regulator ruled against Aer Rianta's plans to invest €1.26 billion at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. The regulator, Mr Bill Prasifka, accused the State company of constructing inefficient facilities, and reduced the average landing fee at Dublin Airport to €5.60 per passenger, from €5.90.
However, the report says Aer Rianta's landing charges have been "very low" compared to its European counterparts. Lower charges should not be used as the prime instrument for stimulating new air services and incoming tourism, it says.
Prof Doganis says such measures should be rejected because they have "little impact" on route-planning decisions by airlines and have only a minimal impact on total holiday costs.
Mr Hanlon highlighted aspects of the report which were favourable to the State company's case in relation to charges made against it by Ryanair.
Labour's public enterprise spokesman, Mr Emmet Stagg, welcomed the report, "particularly its endorsement of Aer Rianta's position and its total rejection of the sustained campaign of abuse directed towards the company by Ryanair . . . It is now essential that Aer Rianta and the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke, work together to ensure that Dublin Airport is developed in the national interest, and not simply in the interest of privately owned airlines whose sole interest is profit."