O'Rourke close to sanctioning new terminal for DUB!
This will no doubt bring a few smiles - except to Aer Rianta, which will get the right boot up the behind it's been needing for some time.
Mrs. O'Rourke has said on RTE News (report below) that she is close to sanctioning a new terminal for Dublin airport, presumably by tender/competition. She is now said (and not before time) to be convinced of the need for a new terminal and few things could be better for aviation in Ireland than the competition this would provide.
Over time, with the parallel runway being developed, the airport will probably develop something like ATL in terms of design and no doubt, the new terminal will have public transport facilities built in from the outset. Let the games begin . . .
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The Minister for Public Enterprise has confirmed that she is considering
allowing the construction of a second terminal at Dublin Airport. Mary
O'Rourke told RTÉ News this afternoon that she had never ruled it out as
part of the development of the airport but that she is closer now than ever
before to giving the project the go-ahead.
The Minister stressed that should she decide in favour of the second
terminal there would be an open competition where interested parties would
tender for the right to build and run the new terminal.
A number of private sector groups including Ryanair and businessmen Ulick
and Des McEvaddy have already expressed an interest in building a new
terminal at Dublin airport.
Mrs O'Rourke denied that the news would be a further blow for the airport
managers Aer Rianta, who last week received a copy of a
government-commissioned report, which recommended the company cut its £1
billion investment plan by up to 75%.
She said that the availability of a second terminal would be a sign of
significant progress in the development of what has become a major
international airport.