15 June 2017
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Cork Airport
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, T.D., today announced that Oxford Economics and Cambridge Economics Policy Associates (CEPA) have been selected as the preferred tenderer to undertake the Review of the Capacity Needs for Ireland’s State Airports.
In the case of Dublin Airport only, the Review is expected to recommend the timeframe for the development of new terminal capacity – Terminal 3 – and its appropriate design and optimum location. It will also assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of the funding and operation of Terminal 3 by the existing airport operator in comparison to being operated on an independent basis.
This Review was announced by the Minister last September and concerns the long-term development of Ireland’s State Airports (Dublin, Cork and Shannon) to 2050. The Review will analyse, for each of the three airports, the capacity requirements to meet forecasted passenger throughput to 2050 and to identify priorities for infrastructure provision.
“Ireland is already ensuring that in the medium term, our State airports have sufficient capacity for growth, particularly with the ongoing North Runway Project at Dublin Airport which will be operational early in the new decade. The Capacity Review will consider the needs of the State airports in the longer term.”
The Minister also stated: “It is my pleasure to announce that, subject to contract, it is intended that Oxford Economics, in association with CEPA, will carry out this important review. Ireland depends on air travel and aviation for our links with the rest of the world, both socially and economically. I have asked that this review consider the development of the three State Airports to 2050 because, in these times of increasing uncertainty, ensuring that our airports are prepared for the longer term is more important than ever. That is why I have prioritised the need for an assessment on the capacity requirements at the airports, including the merits of a Third independent terminal at Dublin Airport.”
It is anticipated that the review will be completed by the end of 2017.
