Over 2.3 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport in June, with the army set to be on stand by to help at security in the event of security staff absences due to Covid-19.
According to daa, they have made a number of improvements which comes after over 420,000 passengers have travelled through Dublin Airport since Friday, July 1, with 50,000 to 56,000 people departing each day. The vast majority of passengers got through security screening in less than 45 minutes.
Kevin Cullinane, daa Group Head of Communications said in a statement: "The contingency plan now in place to train and have Defence Forces personnel on standby if we experience significant Covid-19 related absences in Security Operations remains prudent."
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"The contingency involves the training of Defence Forces personnel for duties at the Vehicle Control Posts at Dublin Airport, only if they are needed. While they will be on standby, deployment of Defence Forces personnel would only be triggered if ultimately required due to a COVID-19 outbreak."
Mr Cullinane said that the airport is now in a "much more robust position" to manage peak summer traffic over the coming weeks.
He explained: "This is supported by a near doubling of our security screening staffing and by our June data which shows that 93% of all passengers 900,500 spend 45 minutes or less queuing at Dublin Airport’s security screening areas, while 77% of passengers queued for 30 minutes or less.
"daa is working around the clock, to ensure we have the right plans and resourcing levels in place to sustain Dublin Airport’s operations successfully during the extremely busy summer period ahead. We are keen to avoid capacity reductions, which have been deployed at other UK and European airports, as these would have a material impact on the summer travel plans of a significant number of Irish passengers and families most of whom have not enjoyed a foreign holiday in over two years and impact business travellers."
Broader aviation sector constraints:
Staffing challenges facing the aviation supply chain across airlines, ground handling companies, and third-party contractors are impacting check-in, baggage handling, retail and cleaning services, and impacting the customer experience
According to daa, while the vast majority of flights at Dublin Airport operated according to schedule, a spike in Covid-19 cases resulted in some airlines and baggage handling crews being short of staff resulting in flight cancellations and delays at airline check-in desks and bag drop areas. They said: "Whereas issues relating to flight cancellations and delayed, or lost luggage are outside daa’s remit, we empathise with those affected and regret the impact this is having on their passenger experience."
Passenger advice:
Anyone who has been impacted by flight cancellations or who needs assistance with baggage tracing should contact their airline or the airline’s ground handling company on these matters.
daa is continuing to ask all passengers at the airport 2.5 hours before a short-haul flight or 3.5 hours prior to a long-haul departure, with up to an additional hour allowed if checking in a bag, if possible, by checking with their airline.
Read more:
- Soldiers ordered on 500km round trip for security work in Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport taxi queue: Man misses niece's birthday due to long wait
Marian Keyes urges Dublin Airport passengers to do one thing to help 'overworked' staff
Fury after Aer Lingus puts family on four different flights in cancellation fiasco
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