Airport terminal decision due in April

A Governmental report into the benefit of a second terminal at Dublin Airport will be published within the next fortnight, the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan said yesterday.

The report, which has been completed by senior civil servants, is expected to come out in support of a second terminal.

Mr Brennan declined to offer his personal views on the matter but said he didn't think there was "any doubt" on his positive disposition towards the investment.

He said he would be making a final decision on the terminal over coming weeks, with a view to making a recommendation to Cabinet in early April.

The Minister was speaking to reporters before the launch of a €2 million Irish investment programme by CityJet, the Air France-owned airline which operates flights from Dublin to Paris and Malaga.

The company recently transferred its Dublin headquarters from Dublin Airport to Swords Business Campus in order to take advantage of a cheaper cost base.

CityJet chief executive, Mr Geoffrey O'Byrne-White, said Aer Rianta had attempted to raise the airline's rent at the airport by 140 per cent last year. A base 15 minutes' away has also proved more efficient on an operational basis, Mr O'Byrne-White said.

CityJet has expressed an interest in becoming involved in a second terminal at Dublin Airport, arguing that the facility should be used as an international hub. Mr O'Byrne-White said he would be concerned if such a project became entirely associated with so-called "low cost" airlines.

In the presence of Mr Brennan. he claimed it was unfair that some airlines operating in the Republic are incentivised and some, such as CityJet, are not.

Mr O'Byrne-White also bemoaned the lack of attention awarded to the airline by Tourism Ireland, the all-Ireland tourism marketing body.

Launching the investment programme, Mr Brennan commended Cityjet's success at Dublin, adding that the Irish aviation community must embrace change if it expected to remain prosperous.

"If we continue to get aviation right, Ireland will continue to grow."

Mr O'Byrne-White said CityJet was keen to broaden its operation at Dublin, "despite the limitations of the current facilities". The company will increase its daily service to Paris Charles de Gaulle from five to six flights at the end of this month.