Dublin Airport Passenger Numbers Down 99% In April
2020 was planned to be the busiest year in the Airports history with the launch of 12 new routes and total passenger numbers in excess of the 2019 record of 32.9 million. By the fourth month of the year, passenger figures are now down an incredible 99% with just 27,000 passengers using the airport in April. By comparison, 27,000 used the airport each morning in April 2019.
Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe fell by 99% with about 9,600 passengers travelling to and from European destinations last month. UK traffic declined by 99% to about 9,000 passengers and passenger volumes to and from North America decreased to 4,700.
Other international passenger traffic to the Middle East fell by 96%, with just over 3,000 passengers travelling last month. The number of passengers on domestic routes decreased by 98%, as about 170 passengers travelled on domestic flights in April. Domestic routes are operated under Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts and continue to operate. More than 5.2 million passengers have travelled through Dublin Airport in the first four months of this year, which is a 44% decrease compared to the same period last year. daa CEO Dalton Philips said that passenger traffic at Dublin and Cork would fall to 9m this year and to between 20-24 million next year compared to 36 million last year
Physical Distancing
In a video message to staff, Dalton Philips said that physical distancing would cut the capacity at Dublin Airport by 70% with passengers potentially facing huge queues into the car parks. A cut in the workforce could put more than 1,000 airport jobs in danger, in order to “right size” the business. Comments by Health Minister Simon Harris suggesting foreign travel looked ‘highly unlikely’ for the rest of the year had not been helpful.
North Runway
Fingal Dublin Chamber has expressed concern over reports that the future of Dublin Airport’s North Runway is on the table as negotiations to form a new Government continue.
Fingal Dublin Chamber Chief Executive, Anthony Cooney said: ‘While normal operations may be temporarily halted as our society and economy sustain the shocking blows of the Covid-19, there is also a need to plan for the recovery. Although the short-term future is grim, we will get through this and must now make decisions that will in time, help us to shine.
‘Government Policy has supported the plans to deliver a new runway at Dublin Airport to ensure that the airport has sufficient capacity to grow and to offer direct services to global emerging markets, however, recent reports suggest the North Runway, may be mothballed in Government negotiations.’
About the Author
Mark Dwyer Mark is an airline pilot flying the Boeing 737 for a major European airline. In addition he is also a Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner and Base Training Captain on the B737. Outside of commercial flying Mark enjoys flying light aircraft from the smallest 3 Axis microlights up to heavier singles. He is also an instructor and EASA Examiner on single engines and a UK CAA Examiner. He flies the Chipmunk for the Irish Historic Flight Foundation (IHFF). Mark became the Chairman of the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI) in 2013 and has overseen a massive growth in the organisation. In this role he has worked at local and national levels. In 2015, Mark won ‘Upcoming Aviation Professional Award’ at the Aviation Industry Awards sponsored by the IAA. Mark launched this website back in 2002 while always managing the website, he has also been Editor and Deputy Editor of FlyingInIreland Magazine from 2005 to 2015.
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