GOOD news for the 30 per cent of Northern Ireland air travellers who use Dublin Airport!
New security staff and scanning machines have been introduced in a bid to cut waiting times which have resulted in frustrating delays and some
travellers missing their flights since the Airport's big security clampdown recently.
Now the Airport claims that waiting times at peak periods have been cut so that no more than 30 minutes is being added to overall journey times.
A damming report by EU inspectors in the spring highlighting deficiencies in the system at Dublin brought an immediate crackdown resulting in long queues especially at peak times. Many travellers were caught unawares resulting in missed flights and mounting frustration among passengers - a million of whom come from north of the Border each year.
Now Dublin Airport authorities claim that things are under control and are confident that the new system with many new security staff will work
effectively this coming weekend - a Bank Holiday in the Republic. Six new passenger channels have been created by reconfiguring the departures
floor, increasing the number from 11 to 17.
The Airport now claims that the longest delay in clearing security is 25 minutes at the busiest weekend times and 15 minutes during the mid-week
commuter early morning rush hour.
Short haul passengers are being urged to arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before departure time and transatlantic passengers should allow two
hours, with an extra 30 minutes in each case if the long stay car parks are being used.
This is a particuarly busy time for Dublin Airport with the number of passengers from Northern Ireland peaking in mid-July.