In November 2010 the Dublin Airport Authority opened its new terminal building. I had the chance to have a look at it when I waited for the departure of my flight to Barcelona.  The terminal has a rather special design and the space allocation is quite different compared to most other terminals: check-in is located on the ground level, the arrival area is found one level higher, and the entrance to the gates is on the third level. After passing the security checkpoints the passenger enters a very well-designed market plaza. However, as the gates are located one level down, the passenger has no feeling for where the gates are exactly and on the gate level itself there are no shopping facilities to be found.

On its website the Dublin Airport Authority informs that the total investment for the building was 395 million Euros and the total size are 75,000 square meters, which means an investment of more than 5,250 Euros per square meter. Considering the fact that Dublin Airport handles mostly flights of so called low-cost carriers (Ryanair and AerLingus, the latter having re-positioned itself as a LCC) one gets the impression that the terminal does not fully reflect the changed market requirements. During a study I recently finished it has became obvious that the construction costs of terminals vary extremely but also that good-looking and spacious terminals can also be constructed for less than 2,500 Euros per sqm (including all facilities).

The last time I was in Dublin, the new terminal was fully operational but unfortunately it doesn't become 100% clear for the passenger which flights leave from Terminal 1 and which from Terminal 2.

Here are some pictures and if you want the full set of pictures just send me an email.