daa Begins Procurement Process For Long-Term Capital Projects At Dublin Airport

February 19, 2021

Departing Passenger at Dublin Airport

daa is to begin procurement processes over the coming months for a programme of long-term capital projects at Dublin Airport.

The decision to move ahead with the procurement processes in question will allow the company to have projects shovel ready for when passenger numbers have recovered from the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Moving into the procurement process at this point will also allow the company to achieve the best value possible in the market.

The scale, scope and timing of the works may change from that indicated in the forthcoming procurement processes, as several projects within the overall programme are subject to planning. daa is also keeping the delivery timescale of its capital programme under review given the negative impact that COVID-19 has had on global air travel.

The projects within the programme were either carried over from Dublin Airport’s last capital programme or are contained within the existing programme, which was approved by the aviation regulator last year. The current likely timescales for the proposed works will run until the end of this decade.

Essential projects, such as Dublin Airport’s new North Runway and the upgrade to the airport’s hold baggage screening systems are also currently progressing and there will also be a requirement for other ongoing works across the airport campus.

“We are adopting a twin track approach to the Dublin Airport capital programme, whereby we intend to move forward with key activities such as procurement and planning as these do not require significant capital investment at this point,” a daa spokesman said.

“This approach takes account of current market conditions and will position Dublin Airport for when the upturn is in full swing and we need to progress future developments in order to meet the requirements of the Irish economy. It is a prudent approach to safeguard the long-term requirements of the airport.”

The works in the capital investment programme will be divided into a number of separate overarching construction packages that are expected to be delivered over the coming years.

A series of procurement processes will be instituted over the next few months. The first element, which is a package of enabling works, is now beginning a tender process. The enabling works will lay the ground for potential future developments at both the northern and southern ends of the existing airport campus.

The five-year programme of enabling works has a potential indicative value of between €30 million and €50 million and is planned to run from September 2021 until September 2026. It includes the demolition of a range existing airside facilities and the construction of several new operational facilities including a new airside management unit, a new base for snow operations, and a new animal welfare facility with stables. It also includes the refurbishment of some landside offices, the construction of a new electricity substation, a new gas compound, and completing all necessary surveys and services diversions.

Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport have fallen very significantly due to COVID-19, but Dublin Airport’s connectivity will play a vital role in helping the Irish economy to recover from the economic shock of the pandemic.

Dublin Airport is Ireland’s key international gateway. It welcomed a record 32.9 million passengers in 2019 and had flights to more than 190 destinations in 42 countries operated by almost 50 airlines. Passenger numbers declined by 78% to almost 7.4 million last year due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Further information:
Paul O’Kane, Tel 353 86 6090221