Dublin Airport experienced a smooth flow of queues at Terminal 2 following a power outage that affected over 30,000 premises in north Dublin earlier today. The airport operator, daa, reported that check-in desks were moving well this evening despite the earlier power issue.
Power Outage Causes Delays
The power outage, which was caused by an ESB power issue in the north County Dublin area, led to a loss of power in parts of Terminal 2 this morning. The outage also affected the airport’s back-up generators, resulting in delays for passengers checking in at T2. Despite the challenges, most flight operations continued as normal throughout the incident.
Graeme McQueen, a spokesperson for daa, acknowledged that there was a small backlog at T2 this afternoon, with 15 flights experiencing delays as a result of the outage. However, he reassured passengers that the situation was being managed effectively and that efforts were being made to address the root cause of the power failure.
Dublin Airport Expresses Gratitude
In a post on social media, Dublin Airport expressed gratitude to passengers for their patience and understanding during the power outage. The airport acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the incident and apologized to all those affected. The message highlighted the smooth flow of queues at Terminal 2 in the evening and reassured passengers that efforts were being made to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Mr. McQueen emphasized that a full review of the incident was underway to determine why the back-up power systems did not activate as expected. The daa is committed to ensuring the reliability of its power supply to minimize disruptions for passengers and airline operations.
Passenger Experiences During the Outage
Eva Murphy Ryan, a passenger at Dublin Airport during the power outage, shared her experience with RTÉ News. She described waiting in line for check-in for over an hour, noting that screens were blank and baggage carousels were not functioning. Despite the challenges, she commended daa staff for their efforts to assist passengers, including distributing water to those waiting in the terminal building.
The disruption caused by the power outage at Dublin Airport coincided with a significant fault identified by the ESB in north Dublin, which left 34,000 premises without power. The ESB worked swiftly to restore power to homes and businesses in the affected area by lunchtime, minimizing the impact of the outage on the local community.
Overall, the incident at Dublin Airport serves as a reminder of the importance of robust power systems and contingency plans in critical infrastructure facilities. While disruptions are inevitable, effective communication, swift response, and proactive measures can help mitigate the impact on passengers and ensure the continuity of essential services.