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DASF member organisation scoops prestigious industry award

The Irish Aviation Authority implements air traffic control in Ireland and has a major presence at Dublin Airport. The Authority is a member of the Dublin Airport Stakeholders Forum since its inception in 2005. Since then the members of the DASF and its Environmental Working Group have been briefed on how the IAA in partnership with the DAA and the airlines have implemented better planning and technology to maximise the smooth flow of traffic, but neutralise the environmental effects.
 
In March 2013 saw the IAA's nominate the Point Merge airspace initiative, a unique innovation that improves safety and provides extra environmental and cost efficiencies for airlines. Point Merge was nominated under the category of Innovation in Action which it duly won. It also won the overall award at the ceremony which is a big achievement considering there were 77 projects to choose from. Mr Peter Kearney, IAA Director ATM Operations and ATM Strategy reacted to the win by saying that the Authority had successfully introduced Point Merge as part of a wider strategy to develop new, innovative air traffic management solutions which deliver safe, efficient and cost effective services to its airline partners. The criteria and feedback from the judges showed what a resounding success it was  “a transport initiative that has demonstrated true innovation and a distinct new method to meet a challenging issue”.
 
Introduced in December 2012, Point Merge uses new techniques to assist airlines to land in what are known as Continuous Descent Approaches (CDAs) on the main Dublin Airport Runway (28). This reduces noise and emissions and is therefore more environmentally-friendly. Depending on the aircraft size, these CDAs permit the aircraft to reduce their fuel burn by up 250kg of fuel (estimated value €170.00) and 750kg of CO2 per arrival. This is also in the interests of the airlines, passengers and environmental stakeholders.
 
Point Merge, or similar Air Traffic control methodologies are now in effect at international airports at Oslo, and considered at Paris, Dublin, Rome, Brussels, and Geneva. Point Merge was developed by the EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre as an innovative technique aiming at improving and standardising terminal airspace operations1 in a pan- European perspective (systematic use of precision area navigation and continuous descent in high traffic conditions). As it relies on existing technology, it has the potential for implementation in the short term.
 
The logistics and Transport awards are organised each year by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

DASF Member Organisation Scoops Prestigious Industry Award

Emirates Lands at T2 Dublin Airport

 (Launching the new Emirates Dublin- Dubai service , was from left Cabin Crew Danika Lillelund; Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD ;Declan Collier, Chief Executive, DAA ; Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline ; and cabin crew Lorna Lynch)

 

 In January Emirates’ Airline announced a new route from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Dublin Airport. The service began on the 9th of January with the landing of the inbound flight to Dublin. It operates on a daily basis and leaves Dublin at 12.55 and arrives in Dubai at 00.25 the following day. The return flight departs Dubai at 07.00 and arrives in Dublin at 11.30. This development has been broadly welcomed by Dublin Airport stakeholders as it represents a significant economic opportunity. At the press launch Dublin Airport CEO Declan Collier stated: “We are delighted to welcome Emirates to Ireland, and I’m sure that this new daily service is merely the beginning of what promises to be a long and very successful partnership between Dublin Airport and Emirates.” Mr Collier also indicated that discussion about this service have been ongoing for around a decade. Emirates Airline executive Tim Clark stated: “Our research team found business interest and tourism potential of Ireland was being quite strong. Second, we were quite impressed with the new hi-tech terminal 2 of Dublin airport that has upgraded facilities.”  Emirates will become the seventh major carrier to be accommodated in Terminal two. Aer Lingus, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Etihad, and US Airways having already made the decision to operate from there. Emirates will operate the route with an Airbus A330-200, offering First, Business and Economy class options for passengers. 

In economic terms this service now provides direct linkage from Dublin to a major international hub in the middle east allowing the movement of goods and people. Dubai itself is a vast airport with four terminals and up to eighty carriers that link to dozens of cities in the EU, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, The Far East, Australia, and further afield.

 

 

New Working Group

After a review of the working groups of the DASF in 2011 the Forum decided to abolish the surface access and economic development & customer services working groups and replace them with a Passenger Services Working Group. The new working group will effectively deal with the issues that these groups dealt with, and incorporate a few additional ones for example the customer experience of the airport, airline serivices, terminal services and shopping. The Passenger Services working group will be chaired by Paul Smith of DCU who is a member of the Forum.

 

Almost 2 million passengers through the airport in August and September

Just under 2 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport in August, a decline of almost 2% on the same period last year, according to the Dublin Airport Authority.

The decline was due to the continued contraction of domestic air travel and a reduction in capacity on a number of European routes by one major customer. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe declined by 3% with almost 1.1 million passengers travelling to European destinations during the month. However, UK traffic recorded a 1% increase with just under 660,000 passengers travelling in August.

Transatlantic traffic to North America increased by 7% with just under 190,000 passengers travelling on this route sector last month. Traffic to other international destinations, which includes flights to the Middle East and to North Africa, was stable with almost 27,000 passengers travelling on these routes during August.

Passenger numbers on domestic routes declined by 71% with just over 9,000 travelling on domestic flights last month.
So far this year, almost 13 million passengers have travelled through Dublin Airport, a 4% increase over the same period in 2010. International traffic is up more than 5% this year.

 

Photo above - Passengers using T2.