Ryanair is backing Dublin Airport's €250 million new runway plan, but does not want it to increase passenger charges to pay for the project.
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is considering going ahead with the plan after more than 25 million people travelled through the airport last year. Such a move could see it increase the passenger charges it levies on airlines by 59 cent a head from their current €9.87 maximum.
Ryanair's chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, confirmed the airline, which had argued Dublin did not need a new runway, supported the plan: "We are always talking to the DAA and we have seen the plans and they make more sense than what we have seen in the past.We are supportive of the new runway but not if it is supported by higher airport charges."
DAA estimates that the runway will cost €250 million and will decide on whether to go ahead with the plan later this year. The Commission for Aviation Regulation could allow the State company to increase passenger charges by up to 59 cent a head to pay for it.
Ryanair opposed the building of Dublin Airport’s second terminal and has fought running battles in the past with the DAA over passenger charges.
It is the airport’s biggest customer. Mr Jacobs said that it accounted for 70 per cent of the growth that saw passenger numbers there climb to 25 million last year from 23.11 million in 2014.
Political quagmire
He argued that Dublin could steal a march on Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports in London, whose plans for new runways are caught in “political quagmire”.
Dublin could be a good example of what can be done if it makes sure to “stick with the plan, stick with the cost and stick with the timeframe”.
Mr Jacobs also confirmed that talks that could see it feeding passengers into Norwegian Air’s long-haul services are progressing well.
Norwegian's chief executive, Bjorn Kjos, referred to the negotiations last week. They could lead to Ryanair agreeing a deal that would allow passengers to transfer from its services to Norwegian's flights to North America and Asia.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said last year it was open to transfer agreements with other long-haul carriers, including Aer Lingus parent International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG).
The company has had talks with Aer Lingus and other airlines, but Mr Jacobs indicated yesterday that it is making most progress with Norwegian.
Hamburg and Sofia
He was speaking as Ryanair announced two new routes from Dublin to Hamburg and Sofia as part of its 2016 winter schedule.
The airline said it will begin flying five times a week to Hamburg and three times a week to the Bulgarian capital.
It is also running new winter services from Dublin to Athens, Bologna, Murcia, Porto and Seville, as well more flights to Bucharest and Gatwick.
The airline will offer 670 weekly flights across 68 routes from Dublin next winter.
