The Dublin Airport Authority’s profits surged by 56 per cent last year, according to new figures issued today.
The DAA said that profits jumped from €69.5 million in 2006 to €109 million for 2007.
Profits for the year after exceptional items amounted to €348m. The exceptional items, with a combined net value of €239m, principally due to the authority’s disposal of the group’s 24 per cent stake in Birmingham Airport.
Total passenger numbers through Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports exceeded the 30 million level for the first time during 2007, rising by 8 per cent to 30.1 million.
Dublin is currently the 8th busiest airport in Europe, and the 14th busiest in the world in terms of international passengers.
Chairman of the DAA, Gary McCann said that construction of Dublin Airport’s new passenger terminal is on schedule for completion before the end of 2009 and passengers will begin to use the new facility in 24 months time.
Mr McGann also announced that the Board of the DAA had agreed to accept the recommendations of the Cassells Report to resolve outstanding financial issues pertinent to the possible separation of Cork Airport.
“The agreement of the boards of both the Dublin and Cork Airport Authorities represents a very important step in the separation process," he said. "The Cassells recommendations will now be incorporated in the airport business plans for evaluation by Government and the DAA will await the final decision by Government as to whether the separation process can be effected."
The first full year of operations at Cork Airport’s new terminal building was marked by a 6 per cent increase in passenger numbers to a record 3.2millon.
Elsewhere, Shannon Airport recorded a 6 per cent increase in terminal passengers last year bringing to a record 3.2million, the number of passengers who either began or ended their journey at the Airport..
