Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - State Airports.

Noel Ahern

Question:

220 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the details of the notified reduction in capacity for flights arriving in Dublin Airport for 2002; if this is a gross or net figure; and the proposed action planned to increase capacity levels. [2297/02]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The amount of capacity, in terms of flights or seats, which is provided by carriers using Dublin Airport is an operational commercial matter for the airline companies involved and I have no function in relation to that matter.

However, Aer Rianta informs me that, despite the current difficult circumstance for the global aviation sector, the forecast passenger throughput at Dublin Airport for 2002 is expected to match last year's figure of approximately 14.3 million passengers. A total of 70 commercial airlines, both scheduled and charter, served 122 destinations in 2001 and Aer Rianta expect that, in the current year, the number of destinations served will rise to at least 125.

Aer Rianta informs me that it is not possible to be specific about the changes in the capacity that will be available at Dublin Airport during 2002. Airlines are still finalising their summer schedules while the winter schedules for 2002-03 have yet to be decided upon by the airlines.

As of now, Aer Rianta is aware that GO will exit its Edinburgh and Glasgow routes in 2002. Aer Lingus have announced that they will be commencing new routes to Nice and Barcelona and will also continue their Malaga service into 2002. Air Canada is commencing a new daily service from Toronto to Dublin-Shannon from June to October this year and Skynet is inaugurating a new Dublin-Shannon service to Warsaw. Aer Rianta expects that these new services will generate an additional 7,500 seats per week.

Aer Rianta's ongoing marketing and promotional activities aimed at further boosting traffic at the three State airports, including Dublin Airport, will continue. These activities will be supported by the company's incentive schemes for new route development at the three airports which, at Dublin Airport, provides for zero airport charges for airlines for the first three years.