[Article] €8m on Dublin airport 'bridge'

€8m on Dublin airport ‘bridge’
Brian Carey
THE Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is to spend €8m on a 250- metre elevated glass walkway allowing passengers access to the new Pier D extension at the capital’s airport.

The decision was forced on the DAA after An Taisce objected to an alternative path through the old terminal building at the airport. The added expense will bring the total cost of the extension to €120m.

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The Pier D extension is situated at the far side of the iconic old terminal, a listed building. Desmond FitzGerald, a brother of former taoiseach Garrett FitzGerald, designed the terminal, which now houses the headquarters of the DAA.

It is understood that Catherine FitzGerald, a daughter of the architect, also expressed reservations about making any alterations to the building.

The original planning permission for Pier D included the walkway but the airport authorities reconsidered the option after it faced accusations from airline users, notably Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, that it was “gold plating” facilities to get higher airport charges.

The Pier D extension will open in autumn 2007. The extension will be capable of handling 10m passengers a year.

The cost of the glass walkway will not be passed on to airlines, however, as the DAA has only been “allowed” to recoup €75m of the total construction costs through landing charges.