AER Rianta has lodged a formal objection to the £50 million plan to build a new privately owned passenger terminal at Dublin Airport.
The state owned airports authority claims that the radical plan for a second terminal at Dublin is "premature" and "would interfere with the future safe and efficient operation and development of the airport".
Huntstown Air Park, a private company controlled by brothers Des and Ulick McEvaddy, wants to build a second terminal on 52 acres of land adjacent to Dublin airport. The developer wants to use the existing airfield runways and link them to its terminal with a new taxi way.
According to Aer Rianta, "the proposed development would be contrary to the policy of the planning authority to control development in the vicinity of the airport, and to ensure its safe and efficient operation".
Aer Rianta lodged its initial objection to the scheme with Fingal County Council 10 days ago. However, the authority is currently preparing a much more detailed submission, which is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Aer Rianta is likely to argue that the construction of a second terminal by the Huntstown group would require the introduction of a two way taxi system for aircraft, while a one way system is recommended for Dublin. The submission to Fingal County Council is also likely to state that the proposed development would also scupper Aer Rianta's plan to build a new taxi way near the Huntstown site which it claims would enable more efficient use of existing runways.
The Minister for Transport Mr Lowry has said that the plans for a private terminal at Dublin Airport "should and must receive careful consideration" and has asked Aer Rianta for "a quick response on the implications of the project".
Over the past two weeks senior officials from Aer Rianta have been in contact with Mr Lowry's department, and are understood to have detailed their objections to the scheme.
The McEvaddy group wants to build a 140,000 sq ft terminal, with bars, restaurants and duty free areas, based on the premise that while capacity at the Dublin airfield is under utilised, the passenger facilities are near breaking point. A 150 bedroom hotel, an executive jet terminal, and an aircraft maintenance hangar are also planned.
Last year Dublin Airport earned a record surplus of £33.6 million, boosted by a 15 per cent rise in traffic as passenger numbers topped eight million for the first time. Aer Rianta plans to spend £95 million on facilities at Dublin Airport, which will double capacity to 15 million passengers.