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LOWER AIRFARES COULD be a pipe dream after Ireland’s aviation watchdog warned trimming passenger charges would jeopardise security at the country’s biggest flight hub.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), which manages the country’s airspace and oversees flight security, has threatened that cuts to departing passenger fees at Dublin Airport “may impact” on the airport’s license.
The IAA’s comments come in a response to the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR), which oversees airport charges, after the pricing regulator said passenger fees should be slashed at Dublin Airport.
Security issues
The IAA warnedt the figures used to work out the new, lower prices did not allow for money being spent on technical upgrades and more staff to improve security at the airport.
Measures it said would have to be shelved included:
But lower fees should mean lower prices for us, right?
The average airport charge per passenger is currently capped at €10.68 – a figure the CAR wants cut by 22% to €8.35 in 2019.
Airlines pay the passenger charges but the costs are eventually passed on to travelers.
In its draft ruling, which is due to the get final stamp of approval this month, the CAR said the lower price reflected the airport’s higher profits and passenger numbers, which it claimed should lower operating costs per person.
Major carriers including Ryanair and Aer Lingus backed the reduced charges, although both have called on the regulator to go even further as there were more efficiency gains to be made at the airport.
Airport says no, blames “weak” financial picture
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has rejected the CAR’s pricing structure, instead calling for a price cap of €13.00 – which it then promised not to charge anyway.
In its response to the lower fees, the DAA said its financial performance “remains weak” – despite it recording an after-tax profit of €9.7 million last year and passenger numbers bouncing back to near their pre-crisis levels.
It also “formally indicated a pricing promise to keep charges flat in real terms” over the next five years, adding:
In one sense the higher price cap is academic, since we don’t intend to price to it.”
READ: Up, up, up: Passenger traffic at Dublin Airport
READ: UK tightens airport security after US warning, Dublin Airport says its business as usual
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If you think lower charges will be reflected in air fares then you are not in touch with reality. We didn’t see the travel tax reduction being passed on!
Take no notice of the IAA they are afraid of their charges being slashed to them it’s bugger the public
I think the poorly trained, unfirable staff are the problem… Xmas two years ago I clunked through in a down snow jacket and massive timberland boots setting off the alarm… DAA security women was chatting to a colleague with her back to me didn’t so much as glance at me or the screen and waved me through.
Then there’s the 5′ 4 middle aged baldy that runs the T1 security most evenings. Little man given the tiniest amount of power syndrome if I’ve ever seen it.
Dublin airport or IAA don’t employ security staff, they’re employed by a private company on a casual basis and can be sacked without notice.
Whats the story with knocks €10?
Its a private airport and does not receive the state aid that Dublin,Shannon etc get.
Dublin/Cork get no aid. Shannon got the 100 million but no further aid. Knock receives state aid as do Kerry/Donegal.
Maybe if Dublin stops paying charges for Cork Airport debts, we could reduce charges. Cork could use Shannon.
Dublin airport is terrible for security. You have to wait forever, no where else have I had to wait so long.
When you eventually get to the top of the que all the guards just stand around chatting to each other.
You obviously haven’t been to Manchester, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Mexico City to name a few
Rome: 3 hours
Bollocks Its greedy company’s tying to scare people ……What ever happened to getting a good old pat down and bag search you, I am not saying you don’t do a good job but hand to hand touch is better then any machine
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