First Look: Inside Dublin Airport's new Platinum VIP suites – with a chauffeur drive to your flight

Guests of Platinum VIP can expect private suites, a dedicated security channel and more… at a premium price, of course
The golden age of air travel hasn't gone away – it just costs an extra €475.
That price – rising on July 1 from the current fee of €395pp – buys you a few exclusive hours in Platinum VIP, Dublin Airport's little-known private terminal, where guests have ranged from Taylor Swift to Beyoncé, Bono, Prince Albert of Monaco and President Michael D Higgins.

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Agriland

an hour ago

• Agriland

DAA issued with enforcement notice over passenger cap breach

Fingal County Council has issued an enforcement notice to Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) requiring the authority to comply with planning conditions relating to a 'passenger cap' at Dublin Airport. The local authority has written to DAA over what it said was a breach of planning conditions imposed by An Bord Pleanála. The Dublin Airport passenger cap has proved controversial, with aviation sector stakeholders wanting to see the cap increased or removed altogether, and DAA applying to have the cap increased by 8 million people, or 25% higher than its current figure of 32 million. However, many environmental stakeholders, as well as farm organisations, have suggested that this would not be in line with environmental targets, with the farm organisation believing the move would be unfair given the climate-related restrictions on farming. A spokesperson for Fingal County Council said today (Friday, June 20): 'The two-year period provides an opportunity for DAA to progress its planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport, or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance.' The conditions were attached to planning permissions granted in 2008 for the construction of Terminal 2 and the extension of Terminal 1, and 'clearly stated' that the combined capacity of both terminals must not exceed 32 million passengers per annum. In response to complaints received alleging that the conditions were breached in 2023 and 2024, Fingal County Council, as the relevant planning authority, initiated a formal investigation to assess compliance with the conditions. A warning letter was issued to DAA, providing them with an opportunity to respond, which they did. Fingal County Council said it acknowledges the 'operational complexities', but that information provided by DAA does not constitute sufficient grounds to prevent further action. The investigation has determined that a breach of relevant planning conditions has occurred and remains ongoing. The county council said that, in accordance with its legal obligations as the planning authority, it issued an enforcement notice under section 154 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. DAA has been given two years to bring its operations into compliance. Passenger cap controversy The efforts to increase the Dublin Airport passenger cap has proven controversial with the farming community and farmer representatives. In early 2024, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), as part of a wider nationwide campaign of protests known as 'Enough is Enough', protested against the proposed increase. Speaking at a protest in February 2024 at Cork Airport (which is also run by DAA), Cork Central IFA chairperson Mathew Hurley said the aim of the protest was to highlight 'the unfairness' of Dublin Airport seeking to grow passenger numbers by 25%, while farmers must cut their emissions by the same amount. Also in early 2024, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) said that any suggestion of lifting the cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport without referencing increased emissions would be 'surreal'. ICMSA president Denis Drennan said at the time that farmers, and the country's multi-billion euro dairy processing sector, will be closely watching the government's reaction to the 'campaign' to increase passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.

Irish Times

2 hours ago

• Irish Times

Dublin airport operator warned over passenger cap breach

Dublin Airport operator DAA has been issued with an enforcement order by Fingal County Council for breaching the 32 million annual passenger limit, despite a High Court suspension of the cap. An Bord Pleanála imposed the limit on airport's capacity in 2007 as a condition of allowing it add a second terminal. The move was meant to allay fears over traffic jams on roads to and from the airport, which have since been upgraded. State company DAA applied to the council for permission to increase the cap to 36 million and 40 million in separate applications, but has yet to receive a decision from the planning authority. However, in April the High Court effectively suspended the passenger cap pending the outcome of a legal challenge relating to the limit taken last year by Irish airlines Ryanair and Aer Lingus, and Airlines for America, which represents US and Canadian carriers. READ MORE The cap was breached last year when 33.3 million passengers came through the airport. The council has now issued DAA with an enforcement notice which allows a two-year period to comply with the passenger capacity conditions. [ Aviation regulator drops measure from winter travel plan Opens in new window ] 'The two-year period provides an opportunity for DAA to progress their planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance,' the council said. In response to complaints received that the conditions were breached in 2023 and 2024, the council's enforcement unit initiated a formal investigation to assess compliance. 'A warning letter was issued to DAA, providing them with an opportunity to respond, which they did,' the council said. 'Fingal County Council acknowledges the operational complexities presented. However, the information submitted by DAA does not constitute sufficient grounds to prevent further action. The investigation has determined that a breach of the relevant planning conditions has occurred and remains ongoing.' A DAA spokesman described the issuing of the enforcement notice as a 'sorry indictment' of the planning system. 'The fact that Fingal County Council is sending us an enforcement notice regarding 32 million passengers when passenger numbers will be north of 36 million this year and heading towards 40 million before the end of the decade is a sorry indictment of the mess that is the Irish planning system, particularly when it comes to the most vital piece of transport infrastructure on this island,' he said. DAA said that until the 'broken' system was overhauled the airport was effectively 'hamstrung' and unable to grow Ireland's connectivity. It has called for a complete scrapping of the passenger limit and for the airport to be classified as strategic infrastructure, placing relevant decisions in the hands of a national planning body and not a local authority. 'When it took up office, the Government committed to acting speedily to identify and implement a legislative solution that would remove the passenger cap from Dublin Airport,' the DAA spokesman said. 'The Minister has since also said he will bring forward legislation to solve the cap issue, dispel uncertainty and maintain connectivity for Ireland – and this can't happen quickly enough.' Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien last month said he hoped forthcoming legislation could bring an end to the dispute.

The Irish Sun

3 hours ago

• The Irish Sun

Renovated £1.5billion stadium now generating almost £1million a DAY after incredible transformation

REAL MADRID'S Santiago Bernabeu is reportedly generating nearly £1million a day. The world-class stadium is known around the globe as being one of football's major cathedrals. 3 Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium is generating nearly £1million a day Credit: Getty 3 The club is enjoying great success from both football and non-football events Credit: Getty Boasting over 78,000 seats, the Bernabeu has been home to It was the first stadium in Europe to host both a Euros and a World Cup final. And in 2019 The major renovation job saw a retractable roof added to the arena, while the surrounding area was boosted by the creation of a shopping centre and hotel. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Now, Real are reaping the benefits of their new home thanks to football and non-football events alike. According to When it comes to matchdays, fans are also able to upgrade their experience by moving to premium seats and boxes scattered throughout the ground. They can also boost their time at the Bernabeu by opting for a plush tour of the ground. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS And tickets remain accessible for both fans and tourists, with several matches not sold out before the end of this season Elsewhere, Real have also boosted revenue with numerous concerts and events. Real Madrid open their Club World Cup campaign with draw against Saudi minnows 3 Taylor Swift played three shows at the Bernabeu last year Credit: Getty Last year saw Taylor Swift play three shows to hundreds of thousands. And in November, the Bernabeu will play host to an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders. There could still be plenty more revenue to come in the future, with Real currently banned from hosting music concerts following noise complaints from local residents after Swift's shows. But the regional Madrid government is working on a reform to current laws about noise pollution, potentially allowing the Bernabeu to start hosting concerts again from next year.