A failed bidder is trying to stop Dublin Airport’s bid to buy a nearby car park, the DAA chief has claimed.

During the pandemic the number of people travelling internationally plummeted and the Quick Park car park closed because of lack of business. 

Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport have now returned to 2019 levels but the car park has not reopened. 

Airport operator DAA has said it would “love” to operate the carpark itself – but its efforts to buy it have run up against a wall of red tape.

“It’s going through a process because our purchase of the Quick Park site - which we have sale agreed on - has been objected to,” DAA chief Kenny Jacob told The Pat Kenny Show.

So, it’s going to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC); that process takes some time.”

DAA has not been officially informed who objected, but Mr Jacob believes the objection has been lodged by a competitor for the site.

“I don’t know who the objectors are but I suspect they are unsuccessful bidders for the site,” he said. 

“The best outcome for the travelling public is that we get the site because it should be used as a car park. 

“We think that’s the best thing for the travelling public; that would give us an additional 6,200 spaces.”

Dublin Airport. Picture by: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

The current owners do not want to rent the car park out to the DAA and Mr Jacob warned travellers there is no guarantee they will be able to park at the airport.

“Ultimately, we cannot provide a car parking space to everybody who comes to Dublin Airport,” he said. 

“We have more car parking spaces than a lot of European airports for the passengers that go through.” 

Mr Jacob said new public transport to the airport “will take some time yet” and parking would continue to play a vital role in people’s experience in the meantime.  

Construction of the MetroLink, which will connect the airport to Dublin via rail for the first time, is due to begin in 2025.

Main image: A Dublin Airport car park. Picture by: Alamy.com