Company Profile

Our History

The Dublin Airport Authority plc (DAA) is a State owned company and first began operations in 1937. The company was originally known as Aer Rianta but in 2004 the State Airports Act created the Dublin Airport Authority plc. The Act also established new airport authorities at Shannon and Cork Airports. The Shannon Airport Authority plc and the Cork Airport Authority plc have separate boards of directors and have been authorised under the Act to prepare business plans that may in time lead to their full separation from the Dublin Airport Authority plc

Aer Rianta's name was derived from the translation of "Air Ways" or "Air Tracks" from the Irish language. The company's original remit was to, "operate lines of aerial conveyances directly or by means of Aer Lingus (the national airline)" and the first flight from Dublin took place on January 19, 1940. The company was also asked to encourage the general development of aviation in Ireland. Today the Dublin Airport Authority continues to own, operate and develop the country's major airports located in Dublin, Shannon and Cork.

All the company's airports have seen significant growth in passenger numbers in recent years reflecting the strong performance of the Irish economy and the DAA is currently embarking on a significant five-year €1.2 billion capital development programme at Dublin Airport. The company's international airport retail arm, Aer Rianta International (ARI), in addition to its global retail operations, also manages the company's minority ownership in Dusseldorf airport.

A Brief Recent History

Each of the company's three airports experienced significant capital development in the 1970's which included the construction of new passenger terminal buildings and piers, the expansion of existing passengers facilities, and the provision of extensive car parking and cargo handling facilities. The 1970's also saw Dublin Airport open a new 8,600-foot runway.

During the 1980's and the 1990's Aer Rianta broadened its commercial base with major business investments in the retailing, catering and hotel industries. This included a significant first in May 1988 with the launch of Aerofirst, a joint venture between Aer Rianta and the Soviet Airline, Aeroflot. The joint venture company opened and operated the new Duty Free shopping facilities at Moscow Airport, a suitable milestone for a company that opened the world's first duty free shop in Shannon in 1947. The Great Southern Hotel Group, one of the oldest hotel chains in Ireland, was been a subsidiary of the company since 1990. The hotels were sold during 2006.

To support its overseas business, Aer Rianta set up a subsidiary company, ARI, which today continues to oversee the development of its many international commercial ventures. In 1996, Aer Rianta, with partners NatWest Ventures Ltd., also acquired a 40 percent stake in Birmingham International Airport. This investment was sold during 2007. In late 1997 another important acquisition was finalised when the company and its German partner, Hochtief, acquired a 50 percent ownership in Dusseldorf Airport.

The Dublin Airport Authority is today focused on meeting the challenges of developing the capacity required to meet the growth experienced at all its domestic airports while continuing to grow its international retail operations. To help achieve this, the DAA is committed to the creation of a performance based and commercially focused company that will successfully meet the demands of its customers and stakeholders alike.