Emirates wants price compromise on Dublin Airport fees

The aviation regulator should moderate her proposed cut to fees at Dublin Airport to keep its expansion on track, the head of Emirates' Ireland operations says.

Shawn Pogatchnik

The aviation regulator should moderate her proposed cut to fees at Dublin Airport to keep its expansion on track, the head of Emirates' Ireland operations says.

"We don't believe a short-term gain on reduced fees is a price that's worth paying to stop needed investment," Enda Corneille told the Irish Independent.

Commissioner for Aviation Regulation Cathy Mannion in May recommended a fee cut from the current cap of €8.81 per head to €7.50 from 2020 to 2024. Her final ruling is expected soon.

DAA chief Dalton Philips insists that the proposed cut would force it to shelve up to half of its €2bn development plans, to lay off hundreds of staff, and to stop dividend payments to the State.

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary and IAG's Willie Walsh have called on the regulator not to raise her recommendation by even a cent because, in their view, €7.50 per passenger should be enough to fund the DAA's ambitions.

Mr Corneille said a compromise adjustment nearer DAA's stated requirements would be better.

"The answer is in the middle. The most important thing is that the investment should not be jeopardised," Mr Corneille said.

He said Emirates' twice-daily services between Dublin and Dubai are dependent on a single, Terminal 2 gate, able to handle its wide-body Boeing 777 jets.

DAA proposes to build a T2 extension with several gates for wide-bodied craft - enough for a third daily Emirates service.