Dublin Airport Authority

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The current Dublin Airport Authority logo

Dublin Airport Authority plc or Údaras Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath cpt in Irish (known until 1 October 2004 as Aer Rianta cpt^[1]) is the state owned airport authority in the Republic of Ireland. The authority also owned the Great Southern Hotels which had nine sites throughout the island of Ireland (until its sale in 2006) and international investments are held by Aer Rianta International. The authority runs Dublin Airport and controls the Cork Airport Authority and the Shannon Airport Authority which are responsible for Cork Airport and Shannon Airport respectively.

1 History
- 1.1 Aer Rianta
- 1.2 State Airports Act
2 Footnote
3 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Aer Rianta

Aer Rianta was created in 1937 as Aer Rianta Teoranta and the name is derived from the Irish language for "air ways" or "air tracks". Teoranta is the Irish word for Limited. Aer Rianta was to serve as a holding company for the national airline and to promote aviation generally.

Aer Rianta was the principal shareholder of Aer Lingus during the airline's early days, until 1966. Aer Rianta had control of Dublin Airport from its start although this was not formally or legally recognised until the passage of the Air Navigation and Transport Act of 1950. During the 1950's and 1960's, the Airport Manager at Dublin Airport, who was officially an employee of Aer Rianta, was also part of the Aer Lingus management team and reported to the Assistant General Manager of that company. It was during this time that the department of Transport and Power turned it's attention to the long-term organisation of the three state airports. Due to the increasing complexity and costs associated with managing airports, and also due in no small part to the growth of non-aviation services (most notably Duty Free sales), the need was felt in Ireland to establish one independent operation to manage Ireland's airports.

In 1966, the passage of the Air Companies Act in 1966 enabled the transfer of Aer Lingus shares to the Minister of Finance, and separate boards were appointed to each company. A general manager of Aer Rianta was appointed in 1968. On April 1st 1969, Cork and Shannon airports became the responsibility of the company.

In 1988 Aer Rianta International was created to pursue international potential to the company's growth not related to Irish airport management - for example, opening Russia's first duty free in Moscow in 1988. In 1990 the Great Southern Hotels became the responsibility of the company which was purchased from Córas Iompair Éireann. In 1998 Aer Rianta Teoranta became Aer Rianta cpt and kept this name until 2004.

[edit] State Airports Act

In 2004 the Oireachtas passed the State Airports Act, 2004. This renamed Aer Rianta cpt as Dublin Airport Authority plc, and established Shannon Airport Authority plc and Cork Airport Authority plc. The three new authorities have power to formulate business plans for their respective airports, however they will not take charge of running the airports until further date to be determined by the Minister for Transport, which by law would not be before 1 May 2005. As of 2007 this had yet to take place. Significant outstanding issues to be resolved include competitiveness and debit restructuring.

The company also retains its significant shareholdings in foreign airports such as Birmingham, Düsseldorf and Larnaca, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Aer Rianta International, which retains the Aer Rianta name for now.

The State Airports Act was heavily criticised by Noel Hanlon, the outgoing chairman of Aer Rianta, and by the company's unions, who believed it a precursor to privatisation. No act to privatise Dublin Airport Authority or any of the airports has been passed however.

In 2006, the Authority sold the nine Great Southern Hotels by trade sale, with the three airport hotels becoming CG Hotels, the Galway hotels being sold to Monogram Hotels, the Rosslare one becoming the St Helen's Hotel, and the Derry one becoming the City Hotel. CG Hotels later signed a management contract with Rezidor Hotel Group leading to both the Dublin and Cork hotels being rebranded Radisson SAS and the Shannon hotel becoming a Park Inn.