The issue of development capacity at Dublin Airport was considered by Warburg Dillon Read-AIB in their recent report on Aer Rianta's future strategic direction. The advisers considered this issue in the context of appraising the need, if any, for a second airport in the Dublin area.
I note the advisers formed the view that Dublin Airport is not constrained from a capacity point of view and indeed, that it has sufficient capacity to expand and accommodate up to 40 million passengers per annum. This figure of about 40 million is, therefore, the most recent estimate of the optimum or ultimate capacity of Dublin Airport and compares to a figure of 12.8 million passengers using the airport in 1999. The advisers also considered various forecasts for passenger growth at Dublin Airport and, depending on the assumptions used, Dublin would reach its estimated capacity potential in 20 to 30 years time. In due course, obviously, there will be a need to plan in a timely fashion for further airport capacity in the Dublin area. The advisers also believe that plans currently under consideration to improve surface transport links to the airport will ease current access difficulties.