Madam, - Imme Mallin (January 6th) compares the experience of flying from "a small Continental airport served by Ryanair" to travelling through Dublin airport. This is not comparing like with like. With more than 21 million passengers in 2006, Dublin is now among the 10 busiest airports in Europe, managing an average of over 60,000 passengers and more than 600 aircraft movements every day.
Dublin airport is subject to the same security and passenger processing constraints as every other major international airport. However, the DAA is the first to acknowledge that due to a lack of significant investment in the airport's development over the past 15 years and above average traffic growth during that period, the departures floor can become very congested and passenger comfort compromised at peak travel periods.
The DAA is working quickly to address these issues. In less than three years, passengers will benefit from a second passenger terminal, an extension to the existing terminal, and two new extensive boarding gate facilities. These will provide more comfort and space and the potential for an even greater choice of airlines and routes than is currently available.
In the short term, the DAA has sought to maximise the operational space on the departures floor and to provide significant numbers of additional customer service and passenger security staff to help passengers on their way.
One such key measure is a new check-in section, Area 14, due to open below the arrivals floor later this month. With 26 new check-in desks, this will have the potential to take up to 4 million passengers a year from the departures floor, making more space for others.
Finally, it is the responsibility of airlines or their handling agents to ensure their check-in desks are opened on time, that they are adequately staffed, and that the check-in queues are marshalled appropriately. If Imme Mallin has found that in the case of Ryanair at Dublin airport, "there is often only one desk open", or that "proceedings are slowed down by people unwilling to pay for overweight baggage", or that "paying for excess weight involves another long queue," these issues should be referred to Ryanair. - Yours, etc,
SIOBHÁN MOORE, External Communications Manager, Dublin Airport Authority, Dublin airport.