Airport Delays 07.12.2013

Technical problems at the air traffic control centre is causing delays at airports across the UK.
A Stansted Airport spokesman said all of its departing flights were subject to delays of between 30 minutes and two hours, while Gatwick Airport said 20pc of its departures had been delayed, with passengers warned they could wait for "a couple of hours".The British National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said the issue stemmed from it control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire.
A spokesman said: "Due to a technical problem at Swanwick, we are currently experiencing some difficulty switching from night-time to daytime operation. This may result in some delays, for which we apologise.
 
A spokeswoman for Dublin Airport said: "I understand that there are some flight delays as a result of air traffic control issues in the UK."
Aer Lingus has said that one in 10 flights into and out of the country are delayed.
Among delays the airline listed by Ryanair were its flight from London Luton to Dublin, London Stansted to Dublin, Dublin to Birmingham, Dublin to Newcastle and Cork to London Stantstead.
The Stansted spokesman said: "There are restrictions on the air space and the flow of aircraft. Our first departures go at 6am, so that's when the problems started."

Dublin Airport International Award

The Loop at Dublin airport has received international acclaim, winning Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Frontier Awards in Cannes for its Christmas campaign, The Joy of Giving. The Frontier Awards, which date back to 1985, recognise standards of excellence in travel retail.

The Joy of Giving, now in its second year, is a multi-channel campaign, the essence of which is the promotion of early Christmas gift buying.  The Loop is the retail arm of Aer Rianta International (ARI).

Nicola Wells, Head of Global Customer Strategy at ARI and The Loop told the County Leader, “Our message remains focused on Christmas being a time for giving. We are thrilled to have been recognised for a campaign in which the whole team is so heavily involved and about which we are all really passionate.” The Loop triumphed in an awards’ category that featured a stellar list of finalists including Dubai Duty Free, Delhi Duty Free and the World Duty Free Group.

North County Leader

Cork and Dublin Airport Expansion

Ryanair is hoping to conclude negotiations regarding the expansion of its services at Cork and Dublin airports within the next couple of weeks. Last month, the airline said it would increase its traffic through Irish airports by at least one million passengers per year, in direct response to the Government abolishing the controversial €3 consumer travel tax in the budget.

In the last couple of weeks, it has unveiled three new routes at Ireland West/ Knock Airport and eight new routes at Shannon. A mix of new routes and expanded existing ones are expected to be unveiled at both Dublin and Cork in the coming weeks.

In its first-half commentary yesterday, Ryanair said that the new routes and bases it unveiled this summer performed well (albeit at weaker yields) with high-cost competitor airlines cutting capacity in major markets such as France, Germany, Poland, Spain and Italy continuing to create growth opportunities for the Dublin-based carrier.

The airline also said that it will introduce full allocated seating on its fleet from the beginning of next February — in essence doing away with the free-for-all which still largely exists on its planes at boarding time. Passengers will pay €5, however, to pick their own seats when checking in online.

Despite yesterday’s profit warning, Ryanair said its lowering expectations for its full-year profitability is symptomatic of a softening marketplace; adding that it still retains one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry and is 90% hedged on its fuel needs for its current financial year.

As part of its ongoing €1bn return to shareholders by the end of Mar 2015, another €150m will be returned.
© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved

Dublin Airport - Continues Growth

Dublin Airport has just recorded 14 months of continuous year-on-year passenger growth, which has helped the airport add more than one million additional passengers over the past year. While Dublin Airport did record overall passenger growth in 2011 and in 2012, this is the first time since 2007 that the airport has had year-on-year passenger traffic growth for 12 consecutive months or more.

“This is a very significant achievement and shows a sustained period of passenger growth,” DAA director of strategy, Vincent Harrison, told The HUB during this year’s World Routes forum in Las Vegas. “Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport are also growing much faster than the EU average,” he added.

According to the latest data from ACI Europe, EU airports recorded 0.2 per cent growth in passenger numbers during the eight months to the end of August. Passenger numbers at Dublin were up by six per cent during the same period. The average growth in the first eight months of this year for Europe as a whole - which comprises EU and non-EU countries - was 2.1 per cent, which is significantly below Dublin’s January to August performance.

Dublin’s growth is coming from a strong long-haul sector with record-breaking Transatlantic passenger numbers, which are up 15 per cent year to date (see 'Record Year for Transatlantic Traffic at Dublin Airport'), a strong performance on routes to the Middle East and Africa, which are up 14 per cent so far this year, and a significant growth in transfer traffic at Dublin. “Our long-haul customers are seeing strong demand, as capacity that was added on long-haul routes last year is being filled,” said Harrison.

Transfer passengers are the fastest growing segment of the market at Dublin. “In the first eight months of this year, Dublin Airport handled 378,000 transfer passengers, which is an increase of 43 per cent on the same period in 2012 and 80 per cent higher than the first eight months of 2011,” added Harrison.

Dublin Airport Retail Centre

A neighbourhood shopping centre opposite Airside Retail Park near Swords, Co Dublin, and going for sale today, will give new owners an initial return of 9.08 per cent.
Joint agents CBRE and Bannon Commercial are seeking more than €8,750,000 for Boroimhe Shopping Centre off the original N1 road in a densely populated area with an immediate catchment of over 5,000 residents.
The centre, on the Dublin side of Swords, was developed in 2006 by brothers Mick and Tom Bailey of Bovale Developments who built more than 1,300 houses and apartments in the immediate area. It is at the junction of Forest Road and the Link Road and serves many of the residents of Rivervalley, Ridgewood and Rathingle, all within little more than a kilometre.
It also benefits from close proximity to Dublin Airport which has 14,000 employees.

Rental income
The Boroimhe complex is producing annual rents of €829,570 with the main anchor tenant, a SuperValu franchisee, contributing 44.6 per cent of the overall rent (€370,000) for a store measuring 1,260 sq m (13,562 sq ft).

Increase in passengers through Dublin Airport

Almost 2.2 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport in August - an 8% increase on the same period last year.
The Dublin Airport Authority has said passenger volumes to and from Europe went up by 6%, while traffic to UK destinations also increased by 6%.
Transatlantic traffic to North America was up 17% and domestic route traffic grew by 2%.
The DAA has said that almost 13.7 million passengers have travelled through Dublin so far this year.

Increase in passengers through Dublin Airport

Almost 2.2 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport in August - an 8% increase on the same period last year.
The Dublin Airport Authority has said passenger volumes to and from Europe went up by 6%, while traffic to UK destinations also increased by 6%.
Transatlantic traffic to North America was up 17% and domestic route traffic grew by 2%.

The DAA has said that almost 13.7 million passengers have travelled through Dublin so far this year.

Woman Airlifted off Cruise Ship

The Belfast Coast Guard requested the assistance of the Dublin-based helicopter which responded to the emergency call at about 10pm. A 78-year-old woman was airlifted off a cruise ship last night due to a heavy nosebleed. Doctors on board the MS Thomson Spirit became concerned by heavy nosebleed.

The doctor aboard the MS Thomson Spirit became concerned for her well being who is understood to have had suffered a number of nosebleeds beforehand.

The Belfast Coast Guard requested the assistance of the Dublin-based helicopter which responded to the emergency call at about 10pm.

It collected the passenger from the boat which was located just south of Strangford Lough.

She arrived at Dublin airport by 12.20am and was then brought to hospital for further treatment.

Medical staff at the hospital stopped the bleeding.

Sultan of Brunei s plane is in Dublin

THERE WAS MUCH excitement among the plane-spotter community in Dublin this weekend as a very special plane touched down.
The private Boeing 747-400 of the Sultan of Brunei, with the call sign V8-ALI, landed in Dublin airport Saturday after a direct flight from Bandar Seri Begawan.
There has been some suggestion that this is the first ever non-stop flight between the two cities, though this cannot be verified.
The sultan himself was not believed to be on board and the plane is thought to be in town to receive a new paint job.
Neither Dublin Airport or Eirtech, a company that specialises in aeroplane painting, could confirm to TheJournal.ie the reason for the plane’s touchdown in Dublin, with spokesmen for both saying that they do not comment on individual planes.
The 747-400 is typically luxurious for a man believed to own over 7,000 cars as well as three jets. It comes complete with a living room, a bedroom and a remote control desk unit.
It is also detailed entirely in gold. Naturally.
The sultan owns what Guinness says is the world’s largest palace, Istana Nurul Iman.
It is said to have 1,788 rooms, including 257 bathrooms and a mosque that can host 1,500 people.
Can you shed some light on why the Sultan’s plane was here? Email: PaulHosford@TheJournal.ie

Dublin Airport - Digital Wall

Production company proposes digital wall for Dublin Airport.
Electronic sketchpad - would display messages from emigrants, immigrants and passers-by.


In an airport, everyone has a different story to tell. With the increase in Irish people moving about the globe in recent years and engaging in life-changing experiences, I’ve thought about a Dublin Airport project for quite a while. The success of various online diaspora-focused communities means that there’s a healthy demographic who want to engage, who want to tell their stories. Many young people continue to leave Ireland in search of a better life and greater opportunities. What’s going through their minds before stepping on that plane? Others, like me, have returned home content with a brief dalliance abroad, perhaps relieved with being back to what they know. Are they experiencing a myriad of emotions like I did? And there’s another important element – the tourists who continue to flock here regardless of the economic turbluence. As outsiders, how do they perceive our country?


As part of The Arthur Guinness Projects, an initiative looking to support and reward innovative and creative entrepreneurship, the Sixsem Production Company, of which I’m a director, has proposed the installation of two “digital walls” at Dublin Airport – one stationed at the departure gate, the other at the arrivals hall. They will serve as electronic sketchpads and will encourage emigrants, immigrants and passers-by to contribute and/or absorb what others have to say. Messages can be uploaded from inside the airport via smartphone devices or by using specially-designed kiosks to type, design and post. The walls will float the best messages, poems and sketches across the screen while an online archive will allow you to search for previous entries. Prompting users to leave certain personal information will see the digital wall also act as a digital guestbook.
Writing on walls has been around for thousands of years, from Pharaohs to Facebook. But the idea is an unusual spin on what a regular installation is. Here, the contributors are also the consumers. The content is the thoughts and opinions of everyday people. And in an environment where our past is celebrated so proudly with various quotes from Irish history, the prospect of facilitating what the present generation has to say, particularly at such a fractured time for our country, seems eternally rewarding.
The digital wall is a legacy project – a reflection of where the country was on any given date, of any given month of any given year. It’s a declaration of proud Irishness with an international slant.
Members of the public have until this Friday August 23rd to vote for the idea and can do so here.

Daithi meets Roses at Dublin Airport

Daithi's brand new beard was the talking point of the day at the photocall for this year's Rose of Tralee Festival which starts this Monday in The Kingdom.

It was supposed to be a chance for the Roses to get to know each other, but apparently the presenter's facial hair was the hot topic of conversation.
Apparently some of the ladies loved his new rugged look, while others pleaded with the Kerry native to shave the new beard off there and then.

It was also revealed today that, fourteen years after Westlife played at the Festival, the band’s former front-man, Shane Filan, will make his solo debut on RTÉ television during the Rose of Tralee live broadcast on the 20th of August.
Speaking about his upcoming performance, Shane said: "I'm so excited about my first live solo performance at The Rose of Tralee, and coming home to Ireland makes it all the more special."

Roses roll call - who will you be supporting?
And in other Rose news, this year online audiences will be able to view exclusive live footage backstage from the Rose of Tralee festival when the show takes a break for the news break at 9pm. Presented by Colm Flynn, the Red Room will take a sneak peek behind the scenes of all the glamour and personalities.
RTÉ Television will broadcast the International Rose of Tralee Selection live from the Festival Dome from 8pm on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th August on RTÉ One.

Ryanair to Stansted as DAA talks stall

Michael O'Leary said Ryanair's outlook remained cautious due to the recession and austerity measures, high fuel costs and tax policies
Ryanair has stalled talks with Dublin Airport on plans to deliver millions of extra passengers a year to the capital.

The airline's deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley, told the Irish Independent that Ryanair had engaged in fresh negotiations with the Dublin Airport Authority after a new chief executive, Kevin Toland, took up his role earlier this year.

However, he said that there has been no contact in recent weeks between the two sides on proposals that he says would have resulted in "millions" of additional passengers at Dublin Airport.

Ryanair is the second-biggest carrier at Dublin after Aer Lingus, handling about 7.5 million passengers a year there. Chief executive Michael O'Leary confirmed that talks with Dublin have "pretty much ended".

Ryanair is now focused on talks with Stansted – its single biggest base – with a view to carrying about five million more passengers a year there within about five to 10 years.

REJECTED

In 2011, Ryanair rejected an offer of €60m in discounted airport charges from the Dublin Airport Authority to boost passenger traffic by more than four million over five years. Ryanair wanted €100m in incentives.

"Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport have been increasing for the past two-and-a-half years and we currently are talking to all of our major airline customers, including Ryanair, about the potential to further grow traffic," said a DAA spokesman yesterday.

Mr Cawley was speaking as Ryanair posted a previously anticipated 21pc decline in net profits to €78m for the three months to the end of June.

The fall in profits was impacted by higher fuel costs, the timing of Easter and a strike by French air traffic controllers.

But overall revenue for the period climbed 5pc to €1.34bn, boosted by a 25pc rise in ancillary revenue from extras such as reserved seating, as well as higher credit card charges. Ancillary revenue for the quarter hit €356.5m, but scheduled passenger revenue dipped 1pc to €985.7m. Weaker sterling against the euro also hit the latter figure.

Ryanair has stuck to its full-year forecast of generating a net profit of between €570m and €600m.

Irish Independent

Dublin airport records greater activity in June

Air traffic at Dublin Airport was up again in June with an increase of 4% in commercial terminal flights recorded.It was the fourth consecutive month of growth at Dublin airport.

Air traffic was also up at Shannon, with commercial terminal flights up 1% in the month.

In total, international arrivals and departures at Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports combined increased by 2.5% in June 2013, when compared to June 2012.

For the period of January to June this year, commercial terminal traffic for Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports was up by 1%, compared to the same period in 2012.

Cork recorded negative growth of 6.1%.

Total flights in Irish airspace increased by 0.1% in the month, when compared to June 2012.
There was an average of 1,634 daily flights during June 2013.

Dublin Airport Biometric Control

Susumo Azano, chairman of Security Tracking Device SA CV in Guadalajara, Mexico, understands that border security should allow fast, efficient, and effective passage. His business started with cargo tracking devices, which allow shipping companies to quickly and safely transport goods. This especially applies to airports, where passengers experience long queues before getting near a terminal.
Self-service immigration control is more than a theory. The Dublin Airport is able to move a passenger through immigration in 7.5 seconds using modern technology, according to an article on Airport Business. The biometric systems by Kaba Gallenschutz consist of a barrier and a series of identification readers. A biometric system (fingerprints, voice, facial recognition, etc.) verifies passengers. Then, once inside the gates, a passenger swipes his or her passport documentation.

Dublin Manchester Route

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann, today launched its first flight from Dublin to Manchester.
The airline will now operate two daily return flights to Manchester from Dublin Airport and aims to fly up to 40,000 extra passengers on the route this year.
Aer Arann, which operates Aer Lingus Regional, recently announced a package of measures to grow the airline as part of its ‘new beginning’ strategy.

Aer Lingus Regional launches new Dublin-Manchester route
These measures included the expansion of services to Manchester through a new route from Dublin Airport.
As part of the airline’s new strategy, Aer Arann recently collected the first of eight new planes in a contract valued at almost €144m. The first of the new aircraft will operate the Manchester route.
Aer Arann operates 550 flights per week across 27 routes in Ireland, the UK and France.

RTE.ie

AirportParkingIreland your best choice for parking

Dublin Airport to close T1 car park for upgrade

Dublin Airport is to refurbish its Terminal 1 car park in a move that is expected to add some 20 minutes to the amount of time it currently takes users of the short-term car park to get from car to terminal building.

It is closing its short-term Block A car park during July and August, with blocks B and C closing on a rolling basis over the next six months.

Car-parking fees

The airport authority has also warned it may have to increase car parking fees for short-term parking when the vehicle is left for more than one week as a demand-management measure.

Further parking is available at the airport in a range of options from the executive parking area where it costs €4,000 per car per year, and the long-term holiday car park where it is available from about €4.95 per day when booked online.

Short term “drive-up” rates range from €4.50 for the first hour to a maximum of €40 per day.

Online rates for short-term parking are currently available at about €25 per day.

American Airlines launches nonstop service between New York and Dublin

American Airlines today launches daily nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Dublin Airport (DUB), adding a new destination to American’s extensive network and giving customers traveling from Dublin nonstop connections out of JFK to cities throughout North, Central and South America. The new flight is in addition to American’s existing nonstop service from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Dublin and complements its 12 other daily nonstop flights from JFK to Europe.
The route will be operated with a two-class Boeing 757-200 with 181 seats.
 
The new service is operated as part of American’s joint business agreement with fellow oneworld® members British Airways and Iberia, connecting travelers to more than 125 cities throughout Europe. The new route provides American’s customers access to countless destinations worldwide through nonstop service from Dublin on British Airways and Iberia to the carriers’ respective hubs in London and Madrid.

JFK eternal flame arrives at Dublin Airport

An eternal flame taken from the grave of former US president John F. Kennedy has arrived at Dublin Airport ahead of the 50th anniversary of his visit.
It is the first time since the assassination of Mr Kennedy in 1963 that the family has allowed a flame to be taken from the Kennedy grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington

JFK’s daughter Caroline Kennedy and sister Jean Kennedy Smith, as well as Taoiseach Enda Kenny, will on Saturday use the torch to light an emigrant flame in New Ross.

It will symbolise the emigrants, including JFK’s great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy, who left Ireland to start new lives in the US, the UK, Australian, Canada and countries across the world.

Minister of State at the Department of Defence Paul Kehoe returned this morning from Washington with a colour party from the Irish Defence Forces.

First Lady Michelle Obama touches down in Dublin with daughters

US First Lady Michelle Obama has touched down in Dublin to begin a two day tour with her daughters.
Mrs Obama said today that she “expect great things” of the young people of Ireland but that she has “never felt more optimistic” about our island.

After arriving at Dublin Airport on Marine Helicopter II she was whisked to Trinity College along with her daughter Malia (14) and Sasha (12) to study their family heritage and see the Book of Kells.

The visit caused significant traffic disruption in the city centre as gardai temporarily closed off roads as part of a major security operation.

The Obamas arrived in Belfast on Air Force One after 8.30am this morning and Michelle began a hectic day by introducing her husband, Barack, to secondary school students at the city’s Waterfront Convention Centre.

She spoke of their “pretty packed schedule” over the next few days but said that it was an “honour” to be so welcome in Ireland.

“But wherever we go, no matter what’s on our plate we always do our best to meet young people just like you.

Kevin Doyle - Irish Times

Irish Boxers Arrive Home

Conquering Irish boxing heroes welcomed at airport
Families turn out to see Paddy Barnes, Jason Quigley, Michael Conlon and John Joe Nevin return with four medals
Another year can only mean another triumphant homecoming at Dublin Airport for Ireland’s amateur boxers.

Ireland’s four medal winners came home last night from Minsk as pound-for-pound the best team in Europe, second in the medal table behind the Goliath that is Russia, which has 25 times the population.

The haul of two gold medals, for Jason Quigley and John Joe Nevin, and two silvers, for Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon, could have been even more had light-heavyweight Joe Ward’s ambitions to win back-to-back European championships not been derailed by, of all things, a clash of knees.

Light-flyweight Barnes was thwarted in his attempt to go for gold by a broken nose.

“My modelling career is still intact,” said Olympic bronze medal winner Barnes, as adept with the jokes as he is with his fists.

The colourful Nevin clan were out in force to welcome home John Joe, who not only won gold in his bantamweight division but was also chosen the boxer of the tournament.

Nevin’s two-year-old son, Martin, was there to welcome home his father, who turned 24 on Friday, as was Nevin’s mother, Winnie.