In an effort to remove confusion for the passenger and allow for the additioanl boarding gate capacity that will come on stream in Terminal 2, all boarding gates at Dublin Airport will be renumbered on Wednesday next February 3 2010.

The alpha-numerical system based on the pier location will be abandoned for a more logical numeric sequence following consultation with airlines.

From start of business Wednesday morning for the first wave of departures the following will apply:

• Pier D boarding gates will start from a 100 number range i.e. D60 will become 101
  
• Pier A boarding gates will start from a 200 number range i.e.  A1 will become 201
  
• Pier B boarding gates will start from a 300 number range i.e.  B22 will become 301

In time, when Pier E is fully operational all boarding gates there will start from a 400 number range.

It is not clear if the new terminal will continue starting at 500 or if it will operate it’s own independent system.

An airport spokesperson stated in a comment, “We believe that this change in gate numbering will provide a more intuitive way finding solution with logical pier/gate sequencing for passengers and is being introduced to improve the customer journey through Dublin Airport .”

It is reported in this morning’s Irish Times that the Irish government is planning a u-turn on it’s decision 4 years ago to make both Cork Airport and Shannon Airport independent of Dublin airport.

According to the newspaper report, comments by minister for transport, Noel Dempsey, yesterday gave a clear indication of the intention to keep Cork and Shannon Airports under the authority of Dublin.

As often speculated at the time, it now appears that the State Airports Act 2004, was nothing more than a name change from Aer Rianta to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). If this story turns out to be true, surely a further name change is required? It would seem a ridiculous situation to have the other two airports as part of a DUBLIN airport authority in the longer term??? 

Read the full Irsh Times article at:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1117/1226700658702.html