Dublin Airport Terminal 2

For some time Dublin Airport has struggled to cope with the ever increasing numbers of passengers traveling through the airport annually. The need for significant additional facilities is unquestioned. For a number of years it has been a question of when significant upgrades would be added to the infrastructure at Dublin Airport, and not if it would happen.

The planning for Terminal 2 began in 2005 when the Irish Government directed the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority) to build a new terminal at Dublin Airport as part of its Aviation Action Plan which also included the sale of the majority share holding in Aer Lingus. Specialist airport architects and project managers were appointed in early 2006 to oversee the construction of the new Terminal.

Plans for Terminal 2 were unveiled during August 2006 which details the DAA’s plans to construct a 75,000 sq meter terminal capable of catering for 15million passengers annually. The construction costs for the new Terminal are estimated at just under €400m with the entire project including additional infrastructure upgrades estimated over €600m. Plans were also unveiled for Pier E which is currently operational and caters mainly for low cost airlines were also unveiled.

Despite a number of objections to the construction of Terminal 2, planning permission for the project was granted on 29 August 2007 with 43. There were three main parties objecting to the construction of the new terminal, but Ryanair and UPROAR (United Portmarnock Residents Opposing Another Runway) were the two most prominent objectors. Ryanair had lobbied for Terminal 2 to be a low cost carrier friendly terminal and wanted it to be run by a competing operator rather than the DAA. Ryanair had even offered to build and operate such a Terminal, however the Irish Government decided the DAA should take charge of the operation and building of Terminal 2. The objections by Uproar were more in line with environmental impacts to the surrounding areas and the over development of the airport.

On 1 October 2007, the construction of Terminal 2 was started. It is expected that the new Terminal will commence operation during early 2010. The new Terminal will have 58 check in desks and ample room to cater for self check in facilities. There will be 9,000 square meters of retail and catering outlets and a comfortable departures lounge.

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