Huge queues at Dublin Airport are giving Ireland a “bad reputation” and it could end up the “bottom rung of international airports” according to businessman Declan Ganley.
Passengers were left furious as they have been forced to queue for up to two hours in recent weeks.
Over the weekend comedian, Dara O’Briain was one of the angry passengers complaining of the poor standards at the airport, slamming the ‘insane queues’ and labelling the facility a ‘mess’.
He said he was queuing for around 70 minutes to get through security, noting that the queues in Terminal 2 stretched out of the building and into the car rental area.
Mr. Ganley spoke to Newstalk saying Dublin Airport puts Ireland ‘on the bottom of the run’ when it comes to international travel.
He said: “When it is functioning the way it is, it gives a very bad impression, especially when people are trying to leave.”
He said the airport experience could prevent people from visiting Ireland which could be a blow for businesses.
“The thing is Ireland has a fantastic reputation and it has been and is a place that people want to go,” he said.
Mr. Ganley believes that transatlantic flights should be moved to places like Cork and Shannon airports to take some of the pressure off Dublin.
“Dublin can’t cope and that’s adding to Dublin Airport’s woes.
“Let’s start to use the airports we have elsewhere in the country and restore Shannon to something like the status it used to have and start using it.
“Otherwise, we’re going lose US immigration there and once we lose it in Shannon we’re never going to get it back.”