Dublin airport is to present airlines with a bill for more than €3 million it is owed for additional security measures introduced in the wake of 9/11.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which replaced Aer Rianta last year, believes the cost of providing additional measures, like passenger profiling and secondary searches in the departure gates, rests with the airlines. It will now take its case to aviation regulator Bill Prasifka.
The airlines - particularly Aer Lingus and Ryanair which make up 70 per cent of the traffic through the airport - strongly reject the DAA's claims. Ryanair has said any security measures are already covered by general airport charges.
While the amount is relatively small at this stage, the airlines are concerned that, if they concede the principle, they could be left with larger bills in future. The issue of airport charges is currently being examined by Mr Prasifka. He has called on the authority and the airlines to make submissions on airport charges before July 1st.
It is understood the DAA will include reference to the outstanding €3 million bill, although most of the submission will deal with the statutory cap on charges which is controlled by Mr Prasifka.
It is understood the issue of the security charges surfaced at the monthly board meeting of the DAA yesterday and chairman Gary McGann is anxious to pursue the matter.
It is understood also the DAA has been invoicing the airlines for the costs for some time. It believes that, after 9/11, the airlines were aware the cost would be passed on to them.
Meanwhile three airports - Cork, Dublin and Shannon - are close to finalising their business plans. Sources describe them as a "works in progress" at this point.
One of the main issues in the weeks ahead is whether the debts of Cork airport will be placed on the balance sheet of Dublin airport. This ultimately will be a decision for Minister for Transport Martin Cullen.
Another issue likely to be decided this summer concerns the fate of Aer Rianta International, the company which has shares in Birmingham, Hamburg and Dusseldorf airports.
It is believed to be a valuable asset and some reports have suggested it will be sold off to meet the debts at Dublin airport.
The future of the Great Southern Hotel chain - which is owned by the authority - has also to be decided.
Mr McGann strongly favours selling the hotels which are loss-making. The idea of selling the nine properties has been rejected by Minister for Tourism John O'Donoghue.