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THE DUBLIN AIRPORT Authority has said that “significant improvements” made at the airport are “achieving their desired result” to alleviate pressure on the system amid a strong return to air travel.
The authority said that despite the vast majority of flights operating on time, a spike in Covid-19 cases resulted in some airlines and baggage handling crews being “short of staff”, leading to flight cancellations and delays at airline check-in desks and bag drop areas.
“Whereas issues relating to flight cancellations and delayed, or lost, luggage are outside DAA’s remit, we empathise with those affected and regret the impact this is having on their passenger experience,” it said.
It added that baggage is an issue across Europe, the USA and Canada and that it is liaising with affected airlines about baggage issues.
The statement comes amid pressures on airlines and airports across Europe after they cut jobs during the depths of the Covid-19 crisis and as travel demand returns after two years of pandemic restrictions.
Representatives of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) appeared before an Oireachtas committee in early June to outline its plan for dealing with the summer surge, with Higher Education Minister Simon Harris warning that there could be consequences for management if the airport authority did not get to grips with the surge in demand.
Last week, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan got clearance from Cabinet for Defence Forces personnel to be on standby to help staff the airport in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak. This measure is to be stood down in August when the busy holiday period has passed.
The DAA issued an update yesterday to say that its plan for the summer surge has been effective, but that the Defence Forces remain on standby to help.
“The contingency plan now in place to train and have Defence Forces personnel on standby if we experience significant Covid-19-related absences in Security Operations remains prudent,” it said.
“The contingency involves the training of Defence Forces personnel for duties at the Vehicle Control Posts at Dublin Airport, only if they are needed. While they will be on standby, deployment of Defence Forces personnel would only be triggered if ultimately required due to a Covid-19 outbreak.”
Over 420,000 passengers
Since Friday, when the school summer holidays kicked in, the DAA said that more than 420,000 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport – with 50,000 to 56,000 people departing each day.
The DAA said the vast majority of passengers (93% of over 900,000) are getting through security screening in less than 45 minutes.
“By comparison with the more drastic measures and impacts reported by peer airports internationally, our current plans are proving effective, and we have increasing confidence that, other than Covid risks, we are now in a much more robust position to manage peak summer traffic over the coming weeks.”
Amid a 1072% increase in passenger traffic compared with this time last year, the DAA acknowledged the challenges the airport faces in managing huge summer holiday demand, as many people begin travelling abroad again now that the Covid-19 emergency has ended.
“We are keen to avoid capacity reductions, which have been deployed at other UK and European airports, as these would have a material impact on the summer travel plans of a significant number of Irish passengers and families, most of whom have not enjoyed a foreign holiday in over two years and impact business travellers.”
It advised any passengers who has been impacted by flight cancellations or who need assistance with baggage tracing to contact their airline or the airline’s ground-handling company.
Passengers are still being asked to be at the airport two and a half hours before a short-haul flight or three and a half hours prior to a long-haul departure, and to add an extra hour if they are checking in a bag.
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I cycled by there this morning – the response from our emergency services was amazing. Especially the fire brigades.
You wouldn’t believe the amount of people stopping to take pictures/videos on their phones.
@Shane Dunne: Sad to hear that somebody has died in this fire.
@Shane Dunne: Totally agree Shane, I witnessed a fire recently. Thankfully nobody was injured but the family lost everything they owned.
A group outside a pub about half a mile away flew a drone over the fire for a good while not knowing if anyone had died or not.
It was very upsetting for the family watching their possessions and home burn.
@Shane Dunne: Even the Journal took one….
I live in a pre-63 house split into flats and if a fire started and spread quickly it would be very hard to get out. I try not to think about it too much. RIP
@Lisa Saputo: All due respect etc, but why did you choose to live there?
@Neal Ireland Hello.: what a silly question ?
@Margaret Murphy: it’s not really. If it’s a worry then why do it.
@Lisa Saputo: Contrary to the two other replies,some of us have little other choice than to rent where we can afford,with a view to buying in the future. It’s foolish for anyone to tell you to move,perhaps you could use this as an example for your landlord (if any) to review the property.Failing that you can contact you local council’s environmental department to assess your letting if you have a concern that it does not meet minimum standards. If you live in Dublin you literally just contact DCC Environmental and they will advise you further,I have used them once before and could not recommend them enough.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: maybe she has no choice. Maybe it’s a choice between that and living on the street. The rental market is insane at the moment.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: its obvious Neal she likes to live on the edge.
What a pathetic question.
@Vincent: I would imagine the views are spectacular, why would think Vincent.
@Lisa Saputo: make sure you have a working fire alarm system that is properly maintained. Also make sure the emergency lighting is functioning and regularly serviced.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: As dignified as always, take a bow.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: Suppose it was there fault for choosing to live there?
@Neal Ireland Hello.: All due respect etc, but why did you choose to ask such a stupid question?
@Vincent: it is really.
@WinSomeLoseSome: the only stupid question is the one not asked. I wouldn’t live somewhere if I thought it represented a serious risk to my safety/life.
@Tony Carberry: ah didn’t you know you can just ‘get a better job’ and live in an tower of ivory looking down on the peasents ?
@Tony Carberry: ah didn’t you know you can just ‘get a better job’ and live in an tower of ivory looking down on the peasents ?
@Neal Ireland Hello.: Budget at the time of moving in, and now we are trying to save for our deposit so options are limited unless we want to rent for the rest of our lives.
@Conor Doran: In fairness to my landlord, that all works quite well so would probably be fine but the building is the same type as the one in Rathmines.
Just heard there was a fatality. Sad news rip
This was in Grove Park,not Grove Road,I live a few doors down. The quality of the living spaces on this road vary dramatically from house to house. I hope the fire alarm wasn’t just some bog standard smoke alarm in each flat,there needs to be a proper multi unit system. Such a sad thing to happen to these people. RIP to the person who lost their life.
@Tony Carberry: Was on vieweing there for some attic room years ago. Didn’t suit me as I wanted space for my bike and there was no option to bring it there because stars too narrow. It was extremely claustrophobic place, wouldn’t image if fire occurs at bottom level – the only run was a roof probably..
Just looking at the arrangement of the outside waste pipes, gives one a few hints.
Back in the 1970s I shared a bedsitter with a friend of mine in that area for short while. I never even thought of a smoke alarm. I don’t think there was any such thing. So sorry for the man who lost his life. RIP.
And the government is considering allowing substandard bedsit accommodation as one of its solutions to the housing emergency.
I heard from my own landlord that it was said to have been a hair straightener that caused the fire on the second floor. It might be a rumour but that’s what I was told today when I asked for a full review of our fire alarm to be done this week. We are still very shocked by this incident on our road.
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