Alliance Aviation Paves Way for GAT at Dublin Airport

DAA signed an agreement yesterday to transfer an Alliance Aviation general aviation terminal at Dublin Airport (EIDW) to the airport authority. Formalized during the Irish Business and General Aviation Association’s International Business Aviation (IBGAA) Conference in Kildare, Ireland, the agreement will provide all business and general aviation aircraft flying through the airport with more convenient access to a terminal next to their aircraft and screening that meets new requirements. 

Speaking during a panel at the conference, Roy O’Driscoll, deputy general manager and head of commercial business development at DAA’s Cork Airport, anticipates the facility should be opened under DAA management by April, with the formal transfer occurring in February. The transfer will be the culmination of more than a year of collaboration between Alliance and the DAA.

Declan Troy, head of health, safety, and environment at Alliance, called 2025 a “year of innovation,” noting the facility significantly eases time for passengers. The only full-services FBO on the airport, Alliance is located on the west apron, removed from all the terminal facilities, including airport screening. “That’s had a real impact on how we tried to operate,” Troy told IBGAA attendees. “So we decided to do something about this.”

Liam Murphy, head of operations at Alliance Aviation, told AIN that in 2024 the FBO operator wanted to explore the opportunity to introduce a screening facility, which subsequently developed into a discussion with the DAA about a general aviation terminal. The airport layout meant a 20-minute drive from the [DAA-run] Platinum VIP services facility and the aircraft and services on the west, he said.

“Platinum is a fabulous facility. And then you go through the screening, and then you get into a van and drive 20 minutes to get to an aircraft. For the majority of GA passengers and travelers, they're flying private because they want the expedition. They want to get in and get out, so they don't want to do long drives,” Murphy noted. “We saw an opportunity to collaborate with the DAA.”

In late 2024, Alliance approached the Irish Aviation Authority and DAA about its vision for full general aviation terminal facilities that would ease its customers’ access, Troy said.

Alliance procured the most advanced security screening equipment, kitted out the area, prescribed standard operating procedures, and then submitted the programs to the Irish Aviation Authority, Troy explained. Once it obtained approval as a terminal operator with a line license and security program, Alliance opened the facility to its fixed-base tenants.

“And it's been a game changer for them,” he said. “They’ve been getting from the car park, for example, to their aircraft in well under five minutes. On the way back, they get from their aircraft through our bespoke customs channel essentially and out to their car in three or four minutes.”

Murphy said Alliance clients have been using the terminal since May. “And now, to alleviate all those problems that GA customers have in Dublin, we have handed over that facility to the DAA, and they will operate it. Basically, every GA passenger will be arriving in the car park, process through the latest screening equipment, and go straight up to their aircraft.”

DAA will manage the terminal and Alliance will remain in its adjacent hangar facility, where it has its offices, lounges, and an FBO. Its services also include a Part 145-approved repair station and aircraft operation, Murphy said.

Leading up to the transfer, Alliance coordinated with all the stakeholders and worked continuously with the DAA to make sure everything was aligned for access to services such as customs and immigration. “That took a little bit of time, but thankfully in the end everything was sorted out,” Troy said.

O’Driscoll said the transfer is what DAA considers phase one. “I have to give credit to the Alliance team, he said. “The stakeholder management side can be very difficult. They’ve worked really quickly, getting buy-in from IAA, customs, immigration, and DAA.”

Meanwhile, ahead of the facility’s opening to all business aviation clients, DAA will add a new lounge and reception area, which will be operated by the Platinum VIP brand. In addition, DAA is looking to add a baggage screening facility. “We're really excited about it. This has been championed all the way up by Kenny Jacobs as [DAA] CEO,” O’Driscoll said. “It's been a real top priority to get that general aviation product operating well on the west.”