Passengers passed through Dublin Airport's Terminal 2 today as the new €600m project was officially opened.
Aer Lingus operated the inaugural flight from Manchester as Taoiseach Brian Cowen formally unveiled the new three-storey facility.
Mr Cowen said viewing the multi-million euro project in the context of the economic crisis was short-sighted.
"T2 was designed and built not just for this year or the next, but for many decades into the future," Mr Cowen said.
"To view it through the prism of the current downturn would be short-sighted in the extreme.
"By investing prudently in improved facilities, we are laying the foundations for future growth and prosperity; not just for Dublin Airport, but also for the wider Irish economy."
Construction on the new building began in October 2007 and, at its peak, employed up to 2,600 workers on site, with 1,000 new jobs created with the building's opening.
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) chairman David Dilger said the project would improve the travel experience for passengers.
He said: "The new terminal is the centrepiece of a five-year investment programme to expand, improve and upgrade Dublin Airport.
"Our passengers told us that they wanted better facilities and we have delivered them."
T2 will be home to Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways and US Airways. It will open on a phased basis.
Aer Lingus will have transferred all its services to the new facility by January. It is asking all passengers to come to Terminal 1 and staff will advise where to go.
Etihad will start operating its services from Tuesday.
T2 will also house a new US pre-clearance facility allowing passengers on US-bound flights to clear all customs, immigration, agriculture and security checks before leaving Ireland.
US carriers will transfer when the pre-clearance facility opens in the New Year.
Passengers using pre-clearance at Dublin will be treated as if they are a domestic US passenger and will face no further checks upon entry to the US.
Online travel agency GoHop.ie said people were confused over the new travel arrangements.
Founder Stephen McKenna said: "It is not altogether convenient that passengers have to check into T1 and then travel out of T2, or vice versa for those visiting the country.
"The situation in relation to US customs and immigration needs to be clarified further and implemented as soon as possible before people can enjoy the real benefits of this new terminal."
Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary, a long-standing critic of the project, marked the occasion by dressing like an undertaker with a hearse, a coffin and carrying a wreath with the words Irish Tourism RIP.
T2 also contains almost 40 new shops, food and drink outlets.
Press Association
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label terminal 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terminal 2. Show all posts
Friday, 19 November 2010
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Ryanair challenge to T2 prevented
The High Court has prevented Ryanair from bringing a further legal challenge to the granting of planning permission for a second terminal at Dublin airport.
Mr Justice Frank Clarke ruled yesterday that the terms of settlement of a previous court action precluded Ryanair from bringing a fresh challenge to the permission for the T2 terminal.
He was referring to a settlement between Ryanair and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) in 2006 of a challenge by the airline to the second terminal. An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for T2 last August.
Ryanair launched a High Court challenge to the validity of that decision in September.
Last month, the DAA applied to the High Court to have that challenge dismissed. Mr Justice Clarke granted that application yesterday.
Ryanair had launched the first legal challenge shortly after the Government decided in May 2005 to grant permission for the second terminal. That action was settled almost a year later following correspondence between Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary and DAA chief executive Declan Collier.
The Government decision was based on passenger projections of 30 million by 2020 and it was envisaged that the second terminal should be built by 2009.
In its first challenge, Ryanair claimed the decision to allow the DAA to build T2 was an abuse of its dominant position and it breached EU treaties and competition law. Ryanair also argued it was done in order to allow "inefficient" trade union-controlled work practices to continue at the new terminal. The case was settled in March 2006 and struck out by the court on agreed terms.
Yesterday, the judge said the agreement arose after it appeared "peace had broken out" between Ryanair and the DAA following a long history of disputes between the two parties.
Dismissing Ryanair's proceedings, Mr Justice Clarke found that the recently approved planning permission was in keeping with a report commissioned by the DAA in September 2005 and upon which the agreement which led to the legal settlement was based.
On the basis of the agreement reached between Ryanair and the DAA in March 2006, the airline was precluded from taking any further legal action, he ruled.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mr Justice Frank Clarke ruled yesterday that the terms of settlement of a previous court action precluded Ryanair from bringing a fresh challenge to the permission for the T2 terminal.
He was referring to a settlement between Ryanair and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) in 2006 of a challenge by the airline to the second terminal. An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for T2 last August.
Ryanair launched a High Court challenge to the validity of that decision in September.
Last month, the DAA applied to the High Court to have that challenge dismissed. Mr Justice Clarke granted that application yesterday.
Ryanair had launched the first legal challenge shortly after the Government decided in May 2005 to grant permission for the second terminal. That action was settled almost a year later following correspondence between Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary and DAA chief executive Declan Collier.
The Government decision was based on passenger projections of 30 million by 2020 and it was envisaged that the second terminal should be built by 2009.
In its first challenge, Ryanair claimed the decision to allow the DAA to build T2 was an abuse of its dominant position and it breached EU treaties and competition law. Ryanair also argued it was done in order to allow "inefficient" trade union-controlled work practices to continue at the new terminal. The case was settled in March 2006 and struck out by the court on agreed terms.
Yesterday, the judge said the agreement arose after it appeared "peace had broken out" between Ryanair and the DAA following a long history of disputes between the two parties.
Dismissing Ryanair's proceedings, Mr Justice Clarke found that the recently approved planning permission was in keeping with a report commissioned by the DAA in September 2005 and upon which the agreement which led to the legal settlement was based.
On the basis of the agreement reached between Ryanair and the DAA in March 2006, the airline was precluded from taking any further legal action, he ruled.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Friday, 7 September 2007
O'Leary to go to court to stop Terminal 2
Ryanair will apply over the next couple of weeks to the High Court for a judicial review of plans for Terminal Two (T2) at Dublin airport including a stay on all construction work.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said yesterday it has placed construction and engineering contracts worth about €200m ahead of an October start date for the construction of the second terminal at the airport subject to challenges.
But Ryanair is going ahead with its challenge to T2.
"We are in the process of preparing documents which should be filed at the High Court within the next couple of weeks," said Jim Callaghan, Ryanair's head of regulatory affairs.
Ryanair first said in August that the new terminal is in breach of planning guidelines and that its High Court action would also centre on the lack of access to the airport.
Mr Callaghan said that Ryanair is not trying to block development at the airport but that the option of a low-cost terminal should be investigated.
Yesterday, Declan Collier, chief executive of the DAA, said the Ryanair challenge was regrettable and costly.
"We regret any delays. Every month we are delayed it will cost us between €3m to €5m.
"I think it's very strange coming from an airline that prides itself on costs and efficiencies. I hope it will review its position."
T2 was given planning permission approval in August 2006 and is due to be completed by the end of 2009.
It is expected that it will be open to the public in April 2010.
Mr Collier was speaking after an address to the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants where he gave an overview of developments at the airport including T2 and eventually terminal three.
"The €200m in contracts range across a number of sectors including the excavation of the site, engineering and steelworks as well as logistics.
There will be about 3,000 workers at peak on the site.
He said the airport will manage 250m passengers over the next ten years and deliver on a €2bn investment programme.
He added that Dublin is the fastest growing major airport in Europe and that it plays a pivotal role in the Irish economy supporting at least 50,000 jobs nationally.
Irish Independent
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said yesterday it has placed construction and engineering contracts worth about €200m ahead of an October start date for the construction of the second terminal at the airport subject to challenges.
But Ryanair is going ahead with its challenge to T2.
"We are in the process of preparing documents which should be filed at the High Court within the next couple of weeks," said Jim Callaghan, Ryanair's head of regulatory affairs.
Ryanair first said in August that the new terminal is in breach of planning guidelines and that its High Court action would also centre on the lack of access to the airport.
Mr Callaghan said that Ryanair is not trying to block development at the airport but that the option of a low-cost terminal should be investigated.
Yesterday, Declan Collier, chief executive of the DAA, said the Ryanair challenge was regrettable and costly.
"We regret any delays. Every month we are delayed it will cost us between €3m to €5m.
"I think it's very strange coming from an airline that prides itself on costs and efficiencies. I hope it will review its position."
T2 was given planning permission approval in August 2006 and is due to be completed by the end of 2009.
It is expected that it will be open to the public in April 2010.
Mr Collier was speaking after an address to the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants where he gave an overview of developments at the airport including T2 and eventually terminal three.
"The €200m in contracts range across a number of sectors including the excavation of the site, engineering and steelworks as well as logistics.
There will be about 3,000 workers at peak on the site.
He said the airport will manage 250m passengers over the next ten years and deliver on a €2bn investment programme.
He added that Dublin is the fastest growing major airport in Europe and that it plays a pivotal role in the Irish economy supporting at least 50,000 jobs nationally.
Irish Independent
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