The team behind the fifth terminal at London Heathrow have been given the job of putting together a key plan for Dublin airport's new terminal in conjunction with the major airlines.
It is understood Dublin airport has appointed London-based firm, Pascall & Watson (P&W), to manage the consultation process with the airlines prior to deciding the most appropriate specification for the facility.
P&W are regarded as one of the largest aviation architectural practices in the world.
They are currently the design team leaders for the Terminal 5 project at Heathrow. They are also working on design project for Terminal 2 at Manchester.
If terminal two at Dublin is built specifically for a low-cost operator, it is likely to cost about €130 million.
If it is designed for short haul and long haul operations it is likely to cost around €190 million.
Additional facilitation costs including site clearance, aircraft stands, roadway and kerbs linked to terminal are likely to add about €100 million regardless which option is chosen.
It is understood P&W began their work in recent days and will report back to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) by late summer/early autumn.
They will be asked to compile and validate the work that has been done to date on a terminal, including Aer Rianta's masterplan completed in 2003. They will also consult with the major passenger airlines using terminal facilities at Dublin Airport to assess their future plans and requirements.
After talking to the airlines they will make recommendations to the DAA. The recommendation will concern the optimum design specifications of the new terminal, the most appropriate site (of the two already identified) and the likely cost
A small project team led by experienced UK airport expert Mark Johnson will understake the work. Mr Johnson has experience of planning and development major development projects for 20 years. He formerly worked with British Airways, where amongst other projects, he worked with over 90 airlines to reconfigure a range of passenger facilities at Heathrow.
It is understood the P &W team will also work with EC Harris, a London and Dublin-based cost appraisal consultancy.
Asked for a comment on P&W's involvement, the chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority, Declan Collier, said the board of the DAA was determined to bring "a new approach and find new solutions to the significant infrastructural requirements faced by Dublin Airport."
It is believed the second terminal can be brought into operation in late 2009 provided there are no unforeseen delays such as legal intervention by third parties.
