Dublin Airport to stop cars picking up passengers outside terminals

Davy · 05-09-2020 11:31am #1

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/dublin-airport-to-stop-cars-picking-up-passengers-outside-terminals-1.4346913

Airport operator DAA is seeking planning permission to install a new paid drop-off and pick-up zone at Dublin Airport, in an effort to reduce car journeys to and from the facility and stop private drivers picking up passengers outside terminals.

The proposed new paid drop-off and pick-up zones, which will have to be approved by Fingal County Council, will operate in front of terminal one and terminal two, and will not be introduced during the Covid-19 crisis.

Under the plans, DAA will change the internal road layout and install new lanes and barriers at the main airport exit.

Currently, private cars are permitted to drop off in front of both terminals at Dublin Airport, but no private vehicle pick up is permitted. A spokesman for DAA said the current system has been “abused” by some for years, with cars illegally stopping to wait for pick-ups or circling the campus roads several times before they collect a person.

While DAA has not decided what charges to implement in the new set down area, figures from Cork Airport, where a similar operation is in place, are worth noting. There, the first 15 minutes are free. A driver then pays €3 for 16-20 minutes, €5 for 21-30 minutes, €10 for 31-60 minutes, and €20 for 61-120 minutes. Anyone who stays beyond 121 minutes may have their car clamped or towed away.

A spokesman added that the new system will not be introduced during the pandemic, but works will take place shortly if the project receives approval from planning authorities. “It will be more efficient to complete the construction work during the current downturn in passenger numbers, as it will have significantly less disruption on the airport road network,” he said.

Additionally, a free drop-off and pick-up option will still be available at the express red long-term car park. A new reduced fee 30-minute parking period will also be introduced at Dublin Airport’s short-term car parks, beside the passenger terminals.

The new toll booths will accept toll tag, card and cash payments.

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 05-09-2020 11:33am

Money hungry fcukers

Inquitus · 05-09-2020 11:34am

What a load of rubbish, I always pick people up, I make sure they are outside and ready to go and stop for 1-2 mins at most. It has never seemed to cause any issues.

Its almost as daft as the Taxi ban, instead of calling Swords cabs, I now have to go queue for a taxi and get abused by the driver for a trip to Swords which is just too far for him to get back in time to keep his slot.

redlead · 05-09-2020 11:36am

Trying their best to make travelling through airports even more enjoyable. Here's a simple solution for them, stop ripping people off in the short term car park and most of the "abuse" will magically go away .

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy · 05-09-2020 12:09pm

They’ll operate a set down area from the red car park. So that means people must share a bus to the terminal who otherwise would’ve been dropped directly outside. Super.

shamrocka330 · 05-09-2020 1:25pm

Inquitus wrote: »

What a load of rubbish, I always pick people up, I make sure they are outside and ready to go and stop for 1-2 mins at most. It has never seemed to cause any issues.

Its almost as daft as the Taxi ban, instead of calling Swords cabs, I now have to go queue for a taxi and get abused by the driver for a trip to Swords which is just too far for him to get back in time to keep his slot.

If you read the article it states that the first 15 minutes will be more than likely free (based on Cork), therefore it won’t impact you.

Irish Steve · 05-09-2020 1:41pm

Typical narrow minded short term myopic thinking, but nothing new there from DAA.

Would make far more sense to move the (parked) pick up taxis and limos from the departure road, and then there'd be plenty of space to allow pick ups. As always, the problem is people that are parking on the departure road because their passenger is not there to collect, limiting space available.

Would also help if they would see some sense and make the middle lane of the 3 the through lane, that would make getting in and out of spaces a lot simpler, and a lot safer, as there would then be pathway access for getting smaller children out of cars.

15 minutes free, with the chaos that's the short term parking it will take longer than that to find a space, let alone then make contact with the passenger.

Another significant help would be a rail or Luas link in to the airport, that would also reduce vehicle journeys, but they won't facilitate that any time soon.

spurious · 05-09-2020 1:59pm

Irish Steve wrote:

As always, the problem is people that are parking on the departure road because their passenger is not there to collect, limiting space available.

This. A thousand times this, but instead of moving the ' Where's Gerry? Didn't he say he'd be here about half past?' types on, they will spend money on toll booths and piss organised customers off.

Another group are the 'booked' taxis who also plonk themselves outside and wait, apparently unchallenged.

cgarrad · 05-09-2020 2:26pm

If the first period is free I can not think of any negatives with this, in fact it's a huge win for people who are organised and play by the rules.

Pkiernan · 05-09-2020 2:29pm

Object to the planning permission

elperello · 05-09-2020 2:41pm

Pkiernan wrote: »

Object to the planning permission

Anyone can just keep an eye on the PP section of the Fingal Co Co website.

Your objection would need to be on planning grounds not just saying you don't want to pay.

Any individual or business owner in the airport area would want to be aware of the knock on effects of this plan.

In many airports in the UK where this type of arrangement is used they have problems with drivers parking illegally/dangerously while waiting to drop in to the pick up zone and collect the passengers without paying.

Some people will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid even a €3 charge.

Caranica · 05-09-2020 3:59pm

Almost every UK airport has this system, not surprised to see it mooted here. Current system totally abused, drop off areas constantly full. Will hate it but understand why it's needed.

redlead · 05-09-2020 5:13pm

Caranica wrote: »

Almost every UK airport has this system, not surprised to see it mooted here. Current system totally abused, drop off areas constantly full. Will hate it but understand why it's needed.

I've never not been able to pull in somewhere in the drop down area and I've been there a lot

Inquitus · 05-09-2020 6:39pm

redlead wrote: »

I've never not been able to pull in somewhere in the drop down area and I've been there a lot

Same here, never seen any issues.

Beersmith · 05-09-2020 6:57pm

I used to use the short term car park a lot to pick up people and I would be in and out in 15min and would pay 1.50e (i think) happily for the under 30min price . Then roughly 3 years ago they made the minimum fee 3e/1hr which ever since I've not paid a cent to the f*ckers. That was a pure ploy to get more money rather than free up the car park

Cookiemunster · 05-09-2020 8:11pm

shamrocka330 wrote: »

If you read the article it states that the first 15 minutes will be more than likely free (based on Cork), therefore it won’t impact you.

Shannon had had this system in place for years. I don't see the issue really.

Davy · 05-09-2020 9:21pm

Cookiemunster wrote: »

I don't see the issue really.

A lot of people would say their isn't an issue in Dublin currently.

90% are probably in and out in less than 5 minutes but we will change road layouts, install barriers and systems because of the 10%.

Even when all this is done, what prevents someone leaving before the 15 minutes, circling and coming back in? It doesn't address the actual issue.

ted1 · 05-09-2020 9:25pm

shamrocka330 wrote: »

If you read the article it states that the first 15 minutes will be more than likely free (based on Cork), therefore it won’t impact you.

Don’t you know , people stop reading when they find something that upsets them

MoeJay · 05-09-2020 9:34pm

Apart from whether the DAA have to raise revenue in other ways than flying passengers due to the belief in some quarters that the airport should be paying the airlines for providing the passengers:

1. Why they can’t run a “cell phone lot” like many airports in the USA where people can wait offsite for free until the arriving pax is ready and don’t clog up the roadways is beyond me, and

2. All this will do is increase the number of people who will park just outside the airport on the roadside doing the same thing. Happens in Aldergrove all the time...

In any case, this wasn’t really a traffic issue at all. Many more queues into and out of the airport are due to the roundabout and the traffic lights, but the plan to fix that is really on the long finger.

imfml · 05-09-2020 9:42pm

At the moment it is quick and convenient to do a drop off. All of the problems stem from the DAA not providing a dedicated pick up point.

In T1, the arrivals level is all public transport. Drivers collecting are delayed while arriving passengers navigate the terminal.

In T2, the arrivals area is a confusing maze with hidden lifts behind fancy glass, a funnel system leading to esculators down for buses or taxis (very handy when you've a trolly). Option B, again hunt for more hidden lifts (all 3 are progammed to sit on the same floor when not in use, instead of sitting at different floors ready and waiting).

The problems in the article stem from poorly thought out design, and yet the DAA accuse the public and passengers of "abusing" the system. Farce.

Provide a proper pick up area and the problems wouldn't exist. People get collected from the airport, who'd have thunk it!?

IngazZagni · 05-09-2020 9:50pm

To be honest I’m surprised this hasn’t happened already. It has been abused massively. I think people have forgotten the huge tailbacks at the T1 drop off area last summer. It was a mess at busy times. The conditions from Fingal coco need to be strict to stop the DAA abusing it and charging a leg and an arm. As mentioned above a “cell phone lot” seen in many U.S airports would be perfect along with a dedicated pick up point. Fingal Coco also need to realise this will push the waiting cars further away into other surrounding areas.

06-09-2020 8:41am

TBH, I’m thinking to walk out as far as Kealy’s any more, tell them to fetch me there. Ridiculous.

Chris_5339762 · 06-09-2020 1:38pm

Stansted do exactly this, remote drop off and bus, and its terrible. At least don't do this nonsense until we have DECENT public transport to the airport, ie Metrolink.

Cork have it correct, greater than 15 minutes waiting and you pay a fiver.

NSAman · 06-09-2020 1:54pm

Have used DUB for years multiple times a year, there has never been an issue with drop off for me. Pick up is normally someone parks in the short term has a coffee and we meet in arrivals.

I agree that bad planning on the arrivals area downstairs by the taxis and buses is an issue for those being picked up.

A cell phone lot would solve this issue and any issue of congestion on outer roads. Also the split road allowing only buses (who speed through that road) is a wasted resource.

beauf · 06-09-2020 1:58pm

I've ever had an issue with drop off and pickups.

If there is a 15 min free period I won't be effected either way.

jam_mac_jam · 06-09-2020 2:00pm

Just pay the couple of quid for parking. Don't really see the big deal with it or the objections to paying for parking.

beauf · 06-09-2020 2:09pm

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Just pay the couple of quid for parking. Don't really see the big deal with it or the objections to paying for parking.

For me it's not the cost is the time. It just takes forever to park then find people, pay and exit the car park. Pickup takes like 5-15 mins.

People ring me as they get off the plane, by the time I get there they are walking out the door. Rarely am parked for more then 5 mins.

basill · 06-09-2020 2:09pm

cgarrad wrote: »

If the first period is free I can not think of any negatives with this, in fact it's a huge win for people who are organised and play by the rules.

Ah. This is Ireland. How many times have you paid for the M50 by now??? It won't be free for long. The reasons to start charging from the get go will already have been devised by the DAA. Give it a few months and then the charges will be rolling in for everyone.

LeBash · 06-09-2020 2:14pm

I always park at the side of the airport, ask whoever im collecting to call when they have their bags and im stopped for about 1 min.

I can see the logic in this as there is lots of people waiting there and blocking the whole place up.

Ticket system, any more than 5 mins and its 20 quid. That would stop it immediately and allow a flow of traffic. They should also extend the parking along the side of the airport to allow about 150-200 cars park and wait.

vandriver · 06-09-2020 2:28pm

Inquitus wrote: »

What a load of rubbish, I always pick people up, I make sure they are outside and ready to go and stop for 1-2 mins at most. It has never seemed to cause any issues.

Its almost as daft as the Taxi ban, instead of calling Swords cabs, I now have to go queue for a taxi and get abused by the driver for a trip to Swords which is just too far for him to get back in time to keep his slot.

What taxi ban?
Any taxi is allowed to pick up at the airport.You just park in zone 18 and pick up the passenger there.

vandriver · 06-09-2020 2:30pm

cgarrad wrote: »

If the first period is free I can not think of any negatives with this, in fact it's a huge win for people who are organised and play by the rules.

There will be no pick up at all.It doesn't matter how organised you are.

Larbre34 · 06-09-2020 2:32pm

...............

This is a national public facility, not the DAAs private domain. No point asking Eamon Ryan to oppose it, so the tactic must be to lobby the TDs for the area, talk about the risk to jobs from loss of passing trade, increased traffic issues on the Swords Road and so on, all of which will be totally unnecessary.

AndrewJRenko · 06-09-2020 2:42pm

Larbre34 wrote: »

...............
This is a national public facility, not the DAAs private domain. No point asking Eamon Ryan to oppose it, so the tactic must be to lobby the TDs for the area, talk about the risk to jobs from loss of passing trade, increased traffic issues on the Swords Road and so on, all of which will be totally unnecessary.

'passing trade'? Who stops at a local shop on their way to/from the aiirport?

bpb101 · 06-09-2020 4:37pm

Saw this today. Shît like this pisses me off. The airport is although private, is public infrastructure. Get public funding for the terminals and runways and rightly so.
People pay road tax, to use the roads. The airport and surrounding roads was designed to allow people to safely drop people off. If the allow this people are just going to drop people off in dangerous places

Doesnt surprise me That they are announcing this today , when they have also announced the pubs reopening guidelines and leaving cert results tomorrow
Hidden under the rest of the news

Also doesn’t surprise me that they announced this 2 months after we get a green minister for transport who hates planes and wants to make air travel more difficult and more expensive

EchoIndia · 06-09-2020 5:01pm

bpb101 wrote: »

Doesnt surprise me That they are announcing this today , when they have also announced the pubs reopening guidelines and leaving cert results tomorrow
Hidden under the rest of the news

Did you read the original article? It is an Irish Times report that the DAA (a commercial semi-state body) has sought planning permission. Planning applications are a matter of public record if you want to go looking. There was no DAA announcement that I can see and if you think there is a big Government conspiracy to bury this amongst other news, where is the evidence?

06-09-2020 5:05pm

Is this going to be like Frankfurt where you pull a ticket and if you are out of the set down zone in 10 minutes no charge is payable but if you stay longer you will be charged...or is it just a pure money grab?

donvito99 · 06-09-2020 5:14pm

Larbre34 wrote: »

..........
This is a national public facility, not the DAAs private domain. No point asking Eamon Ryan to oppose it, so the tactic must be to lobby the TDs for the area, talk about the risk to jobs from loss of passing trade, increased traffic issues on the Swords Road and so on, all of which will be totally unnecessary.

What nonsense. Also we nearly had 'permanently annoyed motorist' bingo there, Eamon Ryan, loss of passing trade, etc.

If you play by the rules, which are designed to avoid pandemonium outside arrivals, you won't pay. If you abuse, you pay.

06-09-2020 5:16pm

donvito99 wrote: »

What nonsense. Also we nearly had 'permanently annoyed motorist' bingo there, Eamon Ryan, loss of passing trade, etc.

If you play by the rules, which are designed to avoid pandemonium outside arrivals, you won't pay. If you abuse, you pay.

Can you confirm that? There are some airports like Luton that have their handout for money no matter how you approach the airport.

donvito99 · 06-09-2020 5:19pm

bpb101 wrote: »

People pay road tax, to use the roads.

oh here we go now.

The airport and surrounding roads was designed to allow people to safely drop people off. If the allow this people are just going to drop people off in dangerous places

Rubbish. if that were to happen, the public will only have themselves to blame. you dont pay for the first 15 minutes sitting outside arrivals.

Also doesn’t surprise me that they announced this 2 months after we get a green minister for transport who hates planes and wants to make air travel more difficult and more expensive

Yea because a nominal fee for sitting in vaulable space outside arrivals will deinitely kill off air travel for good.

why is it that having to pay for parking that is in demand drives people to lunacy?

donvito99 · 06-09-2020 5:22pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Can you confirm that? There are some airports like Luton that have their handout for money no matter how you approach the airport.

I can see people being quite happy to pay for any access at all. if you don't want to pay you don't have to use it.

IngazZagni · 06-09-2020 5:23pm

If it's free for 15 minutes like at Cork and this is a condition of the planning permission (if that's possible) then I'm okay with this. Without that I'd expect the DAA to bleed people of money. We need clarity on their plan.

GhostyMcGhost · 06-09-2020 5:30pm

Beersmith wrote: »

I used to use the short term car park a lot to pick up people and I would be in and out in 15min and would pay 1.50e (i think) happily for the under 30min price . Then roughly 3 years ago they made the minimum fee 3e/1hr which ever since I've not paid a cent to the f*ckers. That was a pure ploy to get more money rather than free up the car park

Plus it’s the tightest f*ing car park I have ever seen, the ramps between floors are appalling

trellheim · 06-09-2020 5:56pm

The old saw is true ; DAA is a car park that happens to run an airport as a sideline.

this is not actually that big an issue, the times it gets crowded (post/pre COVID) is when its mostly departures, and vice versa so they don't crowd each other....

Irish Steve · 06-09-2020 10:37pm

Now I am getting worried, in that the RTE post on this shambles is implying that there will also be a charge for dropping off passengers. DAA get more than enough of a rake in from passengers as it is without them looking for even more. While there is a minimal case for charging inbound passengers, as they don't get a fee for that, they get more than enough from outbound passengers already, without looking to screw even more out of them.

The cynic in me says that this is more about changing the usage of the centre airport car parks to facilitate the new office space that they've built in completely the wrong place.

07-09-2020 7:56am

Apparently there will be a free option- over at the Red Car Park where shuttles will run. Going to be jammed.

California Dreamer · 07-09-2020 8:01am

New Runway.

No Traffic.

Someone has to pay!

Cookiemunster · 07-09-2020 8:45am

California Dreamer wrote: »

New Runway.

No Traffic.

Someone has to pay!

Well, if there's no traffic and no passengers, then there'll be nobody to pay the charges now will there?

trellheim · 07-09-2020 11:25am

Pre COVID I worked in an office; the odd time I would visit a customer in the airport - one of the airlines or one of the other tenants out there. It's not a nice place to bring a car if you haven't got a spot to park in, its more draconian than Dublin City centre ( witness the long running thread on here about clampers in McDonalds) .

I can't see them putting in a mobile phone lot as it will be abused

silver2020 · 07-09-2020 12:45pm

does anyone actually read articles before jumping on a bandwagon.

1 - many motorists abuse the current system and leave cars there for 30 minutes. In any other country, they'd be towed away after 5.

2 - Other motorists drive around and around and around adding to congestion.

3 - They have not decided charges, but they operate similar system in Cork and first 15 min are FREE, then it goes up aggressively.

4 - they are introducing a new low rate 30 min stay in the short-term car park

Where's the issue with this?

Pkiernan · 07-09-2020 1:01pm

No evidence yet to show that the first 15 minutes will be free in Dublin Airport.

Nearly every other airport in the free world has free pickups, with fcukers who abuse it moved on or towed in 10 minutes.

Why do the Irish have to be "special" all the time?

07-09-2020 1:10pm

silver2020 wrote: »

does anyone actually read articles before jumping on a bandwagon.

1 - many motorists abuse the current system and leave cars there for 30 minutes. In any other country, they'd be towed away after 5.

2 - Other motorists drive around and around and around adding to congestion.

3 - They have not decided charges, but they operate similar system in Cork and first 15 min are FREE, then it goes up aggressively.

4 - they are introducing a new low rate 30 min stay in the short-term car park

Where's the issue with this?

Please point out where that is guaranteed. We have read the article and are left scratching our heads.

Dublin Airport to stop cars picking up passengers outside terminals

Comments