Platinum service at Dublin Airport will be closed until further notice of “new booking”.
However, DAA claims that existing bookings will be respected.
The luxury airport service, which was in the midst of a storm last week when DAA CEO Dalton Philips used it to fly to the Middle East on Saturday, was closed late yesterday until further notice.
According to sources close to the situation, the service offering “VIP individualized treatment” for a fee starting from € 295 has been shut down due to “serious pressure” from the government.
Platinum services typically have two staff members working at a time. They will be relocated to other areas within the airport.
A spokesperson for DAAGraeme McQueen confirmed the news.
“Platinum service is currently in operation [for existing bookings] However, we are not accepting new reservations, “he said.
“We have taken this step to optimize the resources of the entire airport operation. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope to resume normal service in the near future.”
Many high-flying executives from the business and financial world use the service when they come to Ireland for business. A-list celebrities who have used it in recent years include U2, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift.
VIP passengers are welcomed in a dedicated suite and private security screening area that is open 24/7 without being disturbed by security queues or baggage carousels.
They also have access to and from planes to vehicles with drivers.
Platinum service costs € 295 including one-way VAT. However, if passengers travel together at a cost of € 165 per additional passenger, the fare may be cheaper.
It is understood that DAA is considering an emergency response plan for VIP passenger security.
Meanwhile, Dublin Airport is calling for a review of the situation as soon as possible, according to sources close to the situation.
One source explains: “This is not what Dublin Airport wants. They want to keep doing all the services. All the other countries and major cities in the world offer this service. Huge amount to Ireland. The CEO of a large Irish company investing in is using it and can’t imagine how they would feel through regular security. “
This story was updated at 7:30 pm and contains additional information provided by the DAA.
