Ryanair calls on Eamon Ryan to “take some responsibility” and solve Dublin Airport crisis

A tough week for the airport continues.

Ryanair has urged Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to step up and solve the crisis currently visible at Dublin Airport. The airline reiterated its demand for an emergency meeting with the Department of Transport to address the ongoing problems at Dublin Airport. Over the course of the last week, lengthy queues for security screenings have been widely reported, with some passengers missing flights as a consequence. Airport staff have said they are experiencing abuse and harassment, including allegedly being pushed and spat on by angry members of the public. The DAA, which runs Dublin Airport, has issued a statement apologising to passengers for the disruption. During the week, Ryanair and a number of other Irish airlines called on the Department of Transport to arrange a meeting of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee (NATFAC) to urgently address the situation. According to Ryanair, that meeting request was rejected.

"We are deeply disappointed the Dept of Transport, who are responsible for Dublin Airport, have rejected the request from Irish airlines to hold an urgent NATFAC meeting," notes a spokesperson.

"Ryanair and other Dublin Airport customers cannot endure more weekends where thousands of customers suffer queue delays of one or two hours, causing many to miss their scheduled flights.

"The Dept of Transport must take responsibility for helping the Dublin Airport Authority to solve this short-term staffing problem."

Ryanair said that the declining of the emergency meeting is "unacceptable", with further "travel chaos" anticipated over the Easter school holidays.

"Ryanair calls on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to take some responsibility for solving this crisis and immediately hold an emergency meeting of NATFAC so that emergency measures can be implemented by the Government to avoid huge queues and long flight delays over the Easter school holidays.

"There is a major short-term problem with staffing at Dublin Airport, and it is the Minister for Transport’s responsibility to intervene at times of crisis such as this by calling an urgent meeting of NATFAC to agree solutions to what we hope will be these short-term but unacceptable security queues at Dublin Airport."

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