The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which is due to release its 2004 results within the next fortnight, is set to report a rise of more than 6 per cent in group turnover to €465 million.
The company's results will be presented on Wednesday week by chairman Gary McGann and new chief executive Declan Collier. They are the first results to be presented since Aer Rianta was dissolved and replaced by the DAA. This happened in October so most of the results were produced under the management of Aer Rianta.
Passenger numbers at the three major airports in the Republic have risen to almost 22 million for 2004, up from 20.4 million in 2003.
While the increased turnover is good news for the DAA, it is understood the regulatory cap on airport charges will be cited by the company as a significant barrier to further growth.
Turnover at Cork is expected to come in at €36.7 million, Shannon will report €98 million, while Dublin will record €250 million. Group profit for 2004 is expected to be well in excess of €20 million.
In 2003 the profit contribution from Aer Rianta's international operations decreased from €13.2 million to €5.1 million. The principal cause of the decrease was Düsseldorf International Airport, where Aer Rianta's losses amounted to € 7.45 million. It is understood the position of the airport improved in 2004.
The three Irish airports are currently preparing business plans for the approval of the Ministers for Transport and Finance. This week at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Mr McGann revealed that uncertainty over the building of a new terminal made it difficult to complete the Dublin plan.
The Cabinet may consider this issue and the future of Aer Lingus this Tuesday, but there is no certainty a decision will be reached.
Fine Gael has said the Government must "get off the fence" and reveal what it intends to do with the Great Southern Hotel group, which is currently owned by the DAA.
Fine Gael's Seanad Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman, Senator Paul Coghlan, said: "There are serious doubts about the future of the Great Southern Hotel group this week following comments by the head of Dublin Airport Authority, which operates the hotels.
Mr McGann said the position of the chain was very bleak and warned that the status quo could not continue".
"The Taoiseach and the tourism minister have, in the past, given assurances that the chain would not be sold. However, this position is looking increasingly untenable. We need to know whether the State plans to sell the chain, or whether it will find another home for the chain within the ambit of the State."
