Passengers to Northern Ireland using Dublin Airport have been warned that long delays may continue during the busy Easter season.
This will be followed by long delays due to staff shortages in recent weeks, with reports that people have waited several hours for security checks and some delays have resulted in passengers missing their flights.
Like many other airports, Dublin has been hit hard by the pandemic as international travel has been curtailed and many employees left on voluntary layoffs.
მეტი Read more: NI travelers warned of long delays at Dublin Airport due to staff shortages
The airport is now looking to hire and prepare staff for the busy summer season.
Dummam, who operates Dublin Airport, has apologized for the delay and for the injured passengers.
A five-point plan for the busy Easter holiday season is now in place after a week of severe delays.
The changes, which were first implemented on March 27, have so far ensured that none of the 300,000 passengers passing through Dublin Airport miss their flights.
However, customers are still advised to arrive at least three and a half hours before their flight to ensure they have enough time to call in to board.
In the past few weeks, passersby at the airport have watched social media while queues have waited for up to four hours to clear security.
Dom acknowledged that major staffing issues were at stake and that until hundreds of new hires were made, EU regulations meant that weekly training and transitional inspections had to be completed before new staff were deployed.
When the travel industry recovers after Covid, officials said new steps will be taken to stop the long wait as many prepare for the Easter holiday abroad.
In a statement, a DAA spokesperson said: “The implementation of these measures has been successful in the past 10 days and none of the 300,000 passengers who left Dublin Airport on March 27 missed a flight for safety reasons.
However, as Dublin Airport is congested in the coming weeks, passengers are reminded to arrive at the airport at least three and a half hours before departure.
The plan includes appointing a large number of additional staff to conduct security checks, training and security clearances, “to help Dublin Airport deal with the higher-than-expected passenger numbers scheduled for the coming weeks and months”.
Staff are also recruited from other airports in the country, as well as from other roles to fill the gap in the capital.
Passengers will be reminded that peak hours from 6am to 10am will see longer queues, so anyone traveling to Dublin Airport in the coming days and weeks should be prepared for things to take longer as expected.
To get the latest news straight to your inbox,
Source: Belfastlive
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
