Sir, – The news that the operator of Dublin Airport is seeking planning permission to increase passenger numbers by almost 30 per cent (“DAA set to seek increase in capacity of Dublin Airport to 40 million passengers per year”, News, April 4th) should give fresh impetus to the idea that Dublin actually needs a second airport, an idea that should certainly find appeal in the areas surrounding the current airport.
The number of European cities with more than one airport is quite extensive and the fact that there is a ready-made alternative available in Baldonnell should make this a serious consideration. Previous discussions on this topic have relied on increasing capacity at other regional airports such as Cork or Shannon but ignores that reality that people want to fly into and out of Dublin.
The limited use of Baldonnell by the Air Corps as a training facility, bearing in mind its actual size, is not a good enough reason to dismiss the notion and it’s clear that this could be facilitated elsewhere in the State. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN McMAHON,
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Co Kildare.