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U.S. businessman describes Dublin Airport nightmare experience

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 8:45 AM

Updated Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 9:04 AM

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Dublin Airport

A U.S. business man, Jeremy Josephson, was one of over 300 passengers who spent more than seven hours on the tarmac as their U.S. Airways flight was delayed and eventually canceled.

He has written to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) requesting a reimbursement of €900 which he spent on flights and expenses because of what he called “gross mismanagement” in the airport.

As well as being involved in the U.S. Airways flight ordeal his flight coming in to Dublin was delayed by 90 minutes before there was a gate open. Two successive Ryanair flights from Dublin to Amsterdam were also cancelled.

He told the Irish Times that he waited for almost two hours before he got a bus to Dublin from the airport. He then got a ferry to Manchester and took another flight to Amsterdam. Unfortunately he missed the return flight to Dublin and then found himself on the U.S. Airways plane which got stuck on the runway at Dublin airport for seven hours.

The businessman who said he has never missed a flight in seven years said that he would not be travelling to Dublin again.

Commenting on the Terminal 2 building which is still not in full use he said “Why do you have that stunning new terminal? Or is it that you do not want to dirty the floor?”

Dublin airport now plans to review how it handles severe weather emergencies. Snowfall in Dublin this Christmas mean dozens of flights were cancelled on Christmas Eve. Ryanair cancelled 91 flights across Europe, eight of them from Dublin. Aer Lingus also cancelled 18 flights from Dublin.

A spokesperson from DAA called Christmas Even the “day from hell”. Ten people spent Christmas in the airport. They were provided with access to food retailers in the terminal.

The DAA also said they are not responsible for the problems blaming the “unprecedented” weather conditions. Eight inches of snow fell on Dublin airport and temperatures fell to -10C (14F) on Christmas Eve. Staff worked all days removing 120,000 tonnes of snow from the runways.

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WoundedKnee | Dec 30, 2010, 02:59 AM EST

So sir peter was at Stalingrad.... Which side were you fighting for, pete? What a nut.

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sirpeter | Dec 29, 2010, 10:33 PM EST

I was at Stalingrad in World War 2..They don't know what an Airport nightmare is..

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melodymaker73 | Dec 29, 2010, 05:29 PM EST

I am surprised that this is your top story. I have nothing but praise for Dublin airport during the smae disruption. Dublin was not to blame for closed New York airports --- you cant take off if youve no where to land!!I was mean't to travel from Dublin airport Monday 27th December for a new year trip to new york. When my party arrived a number of flights form various airlines had already been cancelled. Our flight had an 80 min delay. The queue at check in, although long was moving swiftly and co-ordinated by a team of Continetnal airline staff who kept everything organised. All those in line were happy and chatty. I went to make a general enquiry at the continental desk and was addressed by very helpful staff. They indicated that although there was a delay it was evident that the flight would be cancelled as Newark airport (where we were due to land) remained closed due to the snow bliaards. They immediately indicated they were prepared to rebook or refund our ticket if we wanted even at that stage. I contacted our new york hotel who were prepared to cancel our booking at no cost. We cancelled our flight - had a leisurely breakfast in the airport. Returned to our car (incidently this fee was also reimbursed) and returned home. I checked the internet shortly after and discovered our flight was eventually cancelled so we were very relieved with our decisions. As the adverse conditions have continued we are glad all these options made our decsions much easier. We will return in the summer!!! Patience is a virtue possess it if you can often in a woman - never in a man!

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tosulli | Dec 29, 2010, 10:28 AM EST

Both Cork and Shannon airport was fully operational during the snow and flights were not diverted. Millions, if not billions, were spent in the last 10 years on remodeling Shannon airport and flights should have been diverted there. There is no excuse for how the dublin airport authority and/or the Irish government allowed the situation to be handled. Why didn't the army come in and clean the compacted snow on the way into the airport to clear the backlog of traffic or the runways instead of messing around in dublin city center? Time to open your eyes and realize why tourists have not keen on coming here. 2 years in a row-way to go.

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antoman | Dec 29, 2010, 09:33 AM EST

People that smoke should be compensated to.I imagine after seven hours being stuck in a cylinder without a cigarette,a fella might have no hair left on his head.

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WoundedKnee | Dec 29, 2010, 09:32 AM EST

The Airport is not responsible for the snow, but is responsible for the reaction to the snow. For example, the son of a friend of mine who was marooned in Dublin was manhandled by airport security guards and told to leave the airport at about 10 p.m on Christmas Eve. Where was he supposed to go? Dublin Airport is one of the worst in the world. And remember the guy who runs the airport (undoubtedly a Fianna Fail government supporter--that's corruption irish style) gets paid about twice what the President of the US makes.

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