"Ryanair apply to build Dublin air terminal"

Friday, November 1, 2002

Ryanair apply to build air terminal 
By Fionnán Sheahan
The Irish Examiner


RYANAIR boss Michael O'Leary has applied to build and operate a €150
million terminal at Dublin Airport. Thirteen private sector bidders have
expressed an interest to the Government in developing the proposed
second terminal.

Along with Ryanair, British airline Cityjet, who currently fly from
Dublin, also responded to the Government's invitation to develop the
project. The Government wants a private sector consortium to design,
build and operate the new terminal.

The Ryanair bid envisages spending 150m on the terminal to cater for 12
million passengers a year the same number that fly through Dublin at the
moment. The majority of the 13 bidders are consortiums of construction
companies, architects and airport management companies.

The expressions of interest will now be examined by Transport Minister
Seamus Brennan's officials and, if the Government decides to proceed
with the project, the terminal will then go to tender. Bidders in the
tendering process would not have to express an interest at this point.
It is envisaged that flights could begin taking off from Terminal 2 by
late 2004 or early 2005.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Brennan said the response from the private
sector was encouraging: "We set out to see if there was interest in the
market for this project and obviously that is the case." 

Aer Rianta is still progressing with its plans to build Pier D, geared
for low-cost airlines, adjoining the existing airport. Planning
permission for the project was approved by Fingal County Council but is
now being appealed to An Bord Pleanála.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?confÜConfID8

*****************************************