Aer Lingus has raised concerns to An Bord Pleanála about the proposed €40 million Ryanair maintenance facility at Dublin Airport, stating it could significantly impact its daily operations. This appeal, lodged by Aer Lingus consultants, halves Ryanair’s plans for a state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance hangar at the airport.
The planned hangar, situated 820 meters northeast of T1, aims to generate over 200 jobs for engineers and mechanics, representing a substantial investment by Ryanair in Dublin Airport’s infrastructure.
Kevin Hughes, Aer Lingus’s planning consultant, emphasized that while Aer Lingus supports Ryanair’s hangar construction, it has unresolved concerns about its current design and potential effects on existing operations.
Aer Lingus did not initially submit an observation on the development, relying on assurances from Dublin Airport that its operations would not be significantly affected. However, concerns have arisen, leading to the appeal against Fingal County Council’s planning permission.
Hughes Planning and Development Consultants (HPDC), representing Aer Lingus, highlighted issues related to the hangar’s location and configuration, impacting Aer Lingus’s ability to conduct daily operations at Hangar 6 nearby.
Aer Lingus is particularly worried about the lack of consideration for the turning angle of A330-type aircraft and potential congestion issues resulting from the proposed development’s location and layout.
The appeal was made possible after An Bord Pleanála permitted Aer Lingus to appeal despite not submitting a third-party submission to Fingal County Council initially.
Hughes stressed the need for additional expertise in aviation planning and raised questions about pedestrian and staff access safety to the proposed hangar and logistical concerns about delivering oversized machinery.
Aer Lingus’s concerns include potential disruptions to current aircraft parking arrangements and unanswered queries regarding the safe access of personnel and delivery of equipment to the new hangar.
In conclusion, Aer Lingus’s appeal raises significant challenges to Ryanair’s proposed maintenance facility, citing potential operational disruptions and safety concerns that must be addressed before moving forward with the project at Dublin Airport.
