DUBLIN

[JDB1052]

Dream on . . .

What is needed is a development such as Weston (although planning may stop this) which serves the south and west of the city, including easy access from Kildare and Meath and the southern parts of the M50.

Dublin Airport is fast becoming inaccessible at other than off-peak times for many of us who live south of the river due to the congestion on the M50 (unless you leave a few hours travel time) - a useful measure would be the number of people from this region who would consider flying Dublin to Cork if it used Weston.

There is absolutely no need for a new airport to provide better access to the city centre - the 8km taxi journey from DUB once the Port Tunnel works finish will be as good as many "city" airports, plus if the visitors want to visit the IFSC and docklands, the taxi can spend a few extra quid to use the tunnel and shave ten minutes at least of the trip time.

Give Dublin Airport a speedy security process (giant leaps have been made in the last few months), speedy car park access (at non-extortion rates), direct metro link and speedy runway access and it would be perfect for city centre access.

[malagajohn]

Mark D is correct - the only reason that Belfast has a city airport is taking advantage of the Shorts runway that has been there for years - if that never existed , Aldergrove would be the only airport in Belfast

[ALLMCC]

Just to clarify a few facts about BHD - it was indeed previously operated by Shorts/Bombardier but is now operated by Ferrovial - the land including the runway (which was totally resurfaced last year) is actually owned by Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

The passenger cap has now been removed and most of the hostility has come from its competitor on the shores of Lough Neagh.

Quote "if that never existed, Aldergrove would be the only airport in Belfast" - true, except for the fact that it isn't anywhere near Belfast (15 miles away) with second rate road connections and no rail link - the main reasons why BHD exists and is increasingly popular.

[eastern wiseguy]

Re: Dublin City Airport? Options?

When was the passenger cap lifted? I have been out of the country and can find no reference to it.

As to being in the heart of Belfast yes you are. BUT you have a small runway ...limited hours ...well you do the search.. we have been over this ground many many times. As to NOT being in Belfast that would be the same as Heathrow NOT being in London ..Schiphol NOT being in Amsterdam ...the airports all have that in common. Of course there is a demand for the smaller less busy subsidiary type of airfield..the type that closes before folk could get home from having a proper work day in London,or which has flights cancelled left right and centre by those people who don't want you easily misled but if you need 24 hour opening, sensible technical facilities,and a wide range of EUROPEAN and NORTH AMERICAN destinations/connections the only choice is NORTHERN IRELANDS airport.

Happy new year to all(mcc)

[akerosid]

Dublin posted another impressive year of growth this year, with traffic increasing by 8% to 18.4m; UK and domestic traffic dragged down the overall performance, the highlights of which were Europe and t/a flights.
Given the route plans already announced, particularly by Ryanair (whose increase alone should be sufficient to bring DUB over the 20m mark this year, not to mention new routes by EI and various other carriers), 2006 looks like being very good too.
However, there seems to be three major issues on the horizon:
- Terminal capacity; this is probably the least of the problems in that decisions have been taken (albeit like extracting teeth from a feral crocodile) and hopefully Pier D will get under way;
- Runway capacity, I think, will be the big issue. Last year, there were 182,000 movements; there's no figure available this year, but even if it increases by 5% (less than the pax no.) it will still be over the 190k mark and this year will almost certainly see it exceeding the 200,000 mark - probably quite handsomely. Now, what's with the parallel runway? Haven't heard much about this and it seems that the schedule has slipped to about 2012-13; at the rate growth is running at the moment, it's quite possible that DUB could be at the limit for a single runway (remember 11/29 will have to be decommissioned as part of the 10L/28R works) and will have to start turning away traffic. This issue needs to be pushed forward.
Of course, the increased congestion means that the chances of extending the runway (such as they were) are zilch, so DUB is stuck with the shortest runway of any major airport in Europe for the next 6-7 years, and that's certainly going to curtail some long haul growth opportunities, in particular ...
- Cargo. An Taoiseach and three of his happy band (and lots of business leaders) are off to India, to build up trade links, as part of the govt's Asian growth strategy. Great news and it's about time India and Asia generally were recognised as markets for trade and tourism. BUT ... with the new T2 blocking off cargo parking stands for large aircraft and any extension of the cargo terminal, the airport's opportunities to develop cargo handling capacity are going to be limited; cargo figures for DUB have been flatlining around the 150,000t mark, well below potential. There doesn't seem to be a recognition by the DAA of the importance of this issue and given that Mr. Cullen recognised DUB's position as part of the state's critical infrastructure, they're going to look mighty stupid when it emerges that growth potential is being held back by a lack of freight and runway capacity within the next few years.
Time for pitchfork mode again ...

[Persimmon]

Euromanx to cease Dublin Service

Effective 1 March 2006.
Just announced on Manx Radio. They say due to "over capacity"

[atprider]

Does seem sensible - however looks a little like giving up the fight with Aer Arann on their home patch.
Does this then mean increased efforts to push REA off the other routes that they compete on perhaps?

[Hansol]

Perhaps the IOM Government will get the message that their open sskies policy can't work. It woudn't wpork woth the ferries and it won't with the airlines. I think the consolidation on the Island will contine.

[San Expiry]

Also the RJs are going back within the next week and there's talk that the Dorniers are to bite the dust as well. 13 routes and 6 aricraft to 4 routes and 2 aircraft in just more than 6 months - can't look good, surely?

[Hansol]

Aviation is a tough business, especially tough on the IOM. I think its called injecting a little bit of realism into the market.

[granddaddy]

So what about overcapacity to MAN,LPL and on London routes???? :

[jabberwok]

Originally Posted by granddaddy

So what about overcapacity to MAN,LPL and on London routes???? :

Overcapacity will always lead to further casualties.

[euromanxdude]

As both my girlfriend and me work for 3W, we are both supportive of the decision not one that was probably taken lightly [ IOM-DUB been the 1st route operated by 3W]. However we can concentrate our resources more now on the 4 core routes we have left and the 3 we have serious competion on.
Happy flying

[manx crab]

Does this mean that they will be able to operate all services without the Dorniers?.
Strikes me as all a bit sudden, the vultures must be getting ready to take off, anyone betting on Aer Arran taking them over?

[Hansol]

manx crab - aa are in a far worse state then EM in the IOM their loads are awful.

[manx crab]

Hansol- Looking at the official airport figures, its clear that Aer Arran is not doing as well as EM.
But I think the issue here is who's prepared to stick it out as it is obvious to everyone but the Government that the current situation cannot continue. I would think that Arran believe that EM is a wounded animal and I am sure are surprised that they are still here. But who has the deepest pockets?

In my opinion we would not be in this situation if the EM operation we have now had been in place last year, not the grandiose fiasco that actually was.

[Hansol]

I don't think deep pockets come into it, no one has the stomach for a fight. Why win a route through competition merely to have the government invite another operator in

[manx crab]

I don't think there are that many other airlines out there to come onto the routes.
Perhaps Emerald will make yet another return when their contract expires. None of the LCC would come here unless they were paid as there is not enough business and the airport charges are too high.
Some sort of user agreement with strict controls on frequency and fares is what is really needed but I would not count on the position changing until after the election in November.
EM's performance last year really worried the Government and it will take a long time for the confidence to return.

[boris]

The government wouldn't wear a user agreement way back, when there was a successful airline in situ and LHR slots were still on the table.
I would suggest, therefore, that it is unlikely now, as such an agreement could easily be construed as a bailing out a failed carrier.

[manx crab]

You have to remember though that the airline in question, although reliable, had relatively high fares. I doubt that such a product would be politically acceptable today when the public sees all the LCC adverts in the UK press.
The trouble is that if an airline gets monopoly/near monopoly then the prices rocket, look what happened last summer to the EM fares to LPL after Emerald stopped flying.
The mystery to me is why Flybe almost completely pulled out, I would have thought that several of the routes would have fitted their business model