A proposed third terminal at Dublin Airport was officially submitted to Fingal County Council earlier this year. The plan proposes adding a third terminal between the two current runways, increasing passenger numbers from 28.1 million passengers in 2022 to 40 million by 2030.

Unlike in the United States where airlines operate terminals, in Ireland, this recent proposal sees DAA, a commercial semi-state airport company, submit a plan. The proposal to Fingal County Council includes a brand-new terminal, improvements to Terminal 1 security, an expansion of both the North and South Aprons, and new aircraft stands on the west end of the airfield.

The plan also calls for a new hotel and improved parking facilities, including road network upgrades. These road network upgrades would streamline passengers getting to and from Dublin’s city center more efficiently. Currently, all passengers wanting to reach Dublin Airport from city center must take a bus, taxi or use a ride-share service. It’s even harder for travelers trying to get to Dublin Airport from other parts of the country, like Galway, Limerick and Cork; trains only go as far as Heuston, Connolly, Pearse and Grand Canal Dock, far from Dublin Airport.

These plans will all change in the coming years. Dublin currently does not have an underground metro like its nearby neighbor London. Visitors and locals use buses and Luas, an overground tram system. MetroLink is a proposed metro line that will deliver transformative public transportation infrastructure to the Greater Dublin Area.

The current plan has 16 new stations running from Swords (north Dublin and north of Dublin Airport) to Charlemont (city center), linking Dublin Airport, Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, DART and Luas services together for a fully integrated network. This means travelers to Dublin will no longer need to switch from train to bus or train to taxi to reach the airport. It also means easier access to places throughout Dublin, allowing visitors to see even more of Ireland’s capital city.

Airlines operating at Dublin Airport include Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, British Airways, Etihad Airways, JetBlue, Lufthansa, KLM, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and United Airlines.