The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has hit out at the Irish aviation regulator.
In a statement today, the DAA is warning that passenger growth at Dublin Airport 'will be stifled' over the next five years unless a draft determination on airport charges is reversed.
It has also accused the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) of failing to allow essential investments aimed at improving facilities at Terminal 1 at the airport, which could also damage growth.
The DAA claims growth will suffer over the failure to allow investments for growing transfer passenger numbers, expanding the use of the main runway and delivering additional aircraft parking areas.
The airport handles more than 80% of all international flights to and from the state.
The submission also says that the position of the regulator on a number of these investments "is directly contrary to the government's emerging National Aviation Policy, which supports the development of Dublin Airport as a secondary hub, and prioritises the delivery of new routes and services, particularly to new and emerging markets."
DAA Chief Executive Kevin Toland said "Dublin Airport is currently enjoying strong passenger growth, which stimulates the Irish economy and helps grow inbound tourism. But the aviation regulator's short-sighted decision to veto key investments needed to allow Dublin Airport to win additional business will constrain passenger growth over the next five years and significantly impede the strategic development of the airport."
He claims the regulator has "opted for stagnation at a time when we should be expanding rapidly."
Mr Toland says the regulator's draft determination also contains elements that could affect safety and security at the airport.
"CAR's stance on security staffing levels and essential investments in security screening procedures makes no sense. The regulator has vetoed mandatory investments in new security screening equipment needed to comply with new European regulations and has also refused to allow a number of airfield enhancements that will help improve safety," he added.
