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07th Apr 2022

Dublin Airport to combat long security queues with five-point plan

Hugh Carr

Measures include stopping the sale of Fast Track passes.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has published a five-point plan to combat long waits at security, which have caused some passengers to miss their flights.

The plan has been in place for 10 days, with Dublin Airport saying that no passengers have missed a flight due to security queues since last Sunday (27 March).

However, with numbers set to increase over the coming months, passengers are being advised to arrive three-and-a-half hours before their departure time at minimum.

250 candidates have been invited to interview for a position at the airport, and former security screeners and those on career breaks are being asked to return in a short-term capacity.

A number of staff members from Cork Airport are being temporarily reassigned to Dublin, with current staff being offered overtime pay as well.

600 office-based staff have been placed in a task force to join security during the weekend and at peak times.

All security screeners are being trained by both DAA and third party security trainers.

Security is open 24/7 in Terminal 1, and Fast Track is no longer being sold, but passengers who have already purchased the pass will be able to use it.

A review of the layouts of current security lanes has been undertaken, and additional equipment is being added to security process.

Staff at Dublin Airport say they have dealt with verbal abuse, physical assault and even been spat at due to frustration stemming from delays.

Ryanair has urged Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to step up and solve the crisis currently visible at Dublin Airport.

Ryanair and a number of other Irish airlines had called on the Department of Transport to arrange a meeting of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NATFAC) to urgently address the situation.

According to Ryanair, that meeting request was rejected.

“We are deeply disappointed the Dept of Transport, who are responsible for Dublin Airport, have rejected the request from Irish airlines to hold an urgent NATFAC meeting,” a spokesperson said.

“Ryanair and other Dublin Airport customers cannot endure more weekends where thousands of customers suffer queue delays of one or two hours, causing many to miss their scheduled flights.

“The Dept of Transport must take responsibility for helping the Dublin Airport Authority to solve this short-term staffing problem.”