Ryanair, Ireland’s favourite airline, today (6th Sept) released details of the 2010 Airline Business Annual World Airports Survey which shows that Dublin Airport fell 14 places from No. 61 to No. 75 of the world’s top 100 airports in 2010, when the DAA hiked passenger fees by 40%, as many other UK and EU airports cut fees to stimulate traffic growth. Dublin Airport was the biggest traffic loser in 2010, with a traffic decline of over 10%.

Ryanair again called on the new government to reverse the failed policies of the last Fianna Fáil administration by scrapping the tourist tax and reversing the DAA’s high and uncompetitive airport charges. Under the dead hand of the DAA monopoly, Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports continue to suffer traffic declines, as most other international airports have returned to growth. Ryanair believes that Ireland can no longer afford an uncompetitive, semi-state, airport monopoly where only Declan Collier’s pay packet rises, as traffic at all three airports declines.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:

“These figures are another damning indictment of the government owned DAA airport monopoly. At a time when most other UK and European airports are reducing charges, Dublin Airport hiked its fees by 40% in 2010. As a result it has suffered the worst loss of traffic of any of the top 100 international airports and has fallen 14 places to No. 75 on the list.

While the performance of Dublin Airport was poor last year, the traffic declines in Cork and Shannon airports are even worse. Since the DAA refused to extend Ryanair’s low cost base agreement in 2010, traffic at Shannon Airport has fallen from a high of 3.6m to just 1.3m passengers in 2011. This is why the DAA are hiding the monthly traffic figures at Cork and Shannon airports, in the hope that no one will notice the collapse that has taken place under the DAA’s and Declan Collier’s mismanagement.

Irish tourism can grow again, but only when the tourist tax is scrapped and the DAA’s high fees are cut to competitive levels. What Ireland cannot afford is another year of DAA price increases, leading to further traffic declines as Dublin Airport continues to inflict more damage on Irish tourism, Irish jobs and the Irish economy.”

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