Dublin Airport Operations Disrupted as Power Outage Hits The Area
Dublin Airport is experiencing continued delays in its operations due to a power outage that impacted over 30,000 premises in north Dublin earlier today.
The disruption, which began this morning, was caused by a significant power failure in the north County Dublin area, managed by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB). This outage resulted in a loss of power in parts of Terminal 2 at the airport, leading to widespread operational challenges.
The Dublin airport operator, DAA, reported that the power failure not only affected the main electricity supply but also caused issues with the airport’s back-up generators.
These generators, which are crucial for maintaining essential operations during such outages, failed to engage properly, compounding the problem and resulting in delays for passengers checking in at Terminal 2.
Despite the challenges, DAA indicated that most flight operations continued as scheduled throughout the incident. However, the disruption led to a small backlog of passengers at Terminal 2.
By this afternoon, DAA spokesperson Graeme McQueen confirmed that 15 flights had been delayed due to the power outage and subsequent technical issues. He assured travellers that while the situation was improving, passengers should anticipate some additional delays as the airport works to clear the backlog of passengers.
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McQueen also confirmed that a thorough review is underway to determine why the back-up power systems failed to activate as expected. The DAA is committed to identifying the root cause of the issue and implementing measures to prevent a recurrence in the future.
The Dublin airport operator has issued a formal apology to all passengers affected by the delays, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused and acknowledging the efforts of their teams to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible.
Passenger experiences at the airport varied throughout the day. Eva Murphy Ryan, a traveller at the airport, shared her frustrations with RTÉ News, describing a long wait at the top of a check-in line that lasted more than an hour.
She noted that the terminal’s information screens were blank, and baggage carousels at check-in desks were not operational, exacerbating the confusion and frustration among the hundreds of waiting passengers. According to Ryan, DAA staff were actively working to assist passengers by distributing water while the situation was being addressed.
The power outage affected a broad area, with a total of 34,000 premises in north Dublin losing electricity.
The ESB described the issue as a “significant fault” that disrupted both residential and commercial properties in the region. Fortunately, power was restored to the affected homes and businesses by lunchtime, alleviating some of the immediate concerns of the local community.
Even though the power outage has become a thing of the past for Dublin Airport, it is still important for any passenger planning on flying out of the airport to remain up to date on their flight and any future interruptions.
The operational teams of the Dublin airport have been actively trying to reduce the impact and to get back to service as soon as possible. Passengers are encouraged to monitor their flights and wait for any changes or possible additional hours of waiting.
The incident also brings into focus the need for effective back up mechanisms for continued airport functioning in case of disasters.
As the DAA conducts its review and implements necessary improvements, passengers and airport staff alike will be hoping for a swift resolution to the current disruptions and a return to smoother travel experiences at Dublin Airport.
