Dublin Airport was hit by a power outage on Sunday morning, causing traffic chaos at the airport. The power failure knocked out back-up generators which are designed to ensure the airport can continue to operate in the event of more general loss of power in the area around the airport.
Airport operator DAA said the loss of power was likely to lead to the delay of some flights. Among the areas affected, according to passengers, was the dedicated US preclearance facility in Terminal 2, which appeared to be closed until around 11am on Sunday.
ESB confirmed it is dealing with a power outage after a “significant fault” in north county Dublin, affecting some 34,000 customers.
“This included sections of Dublin Airport which briefly lost power earlier this morning but supply has since been fully restored at the site,” a spokesman for ESB Networks said. “ESB Networks crews mobilised immediately following reports of the fault and are currently investigating the cause while also carrying out the necessary repair works.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for DAA said the issue has now been resolved after the outage led to a loss of power in “parts of Terminal 2″. It said the nature of the outage “caused an issue with the airport’s back-up generators, which resulted in some delays for passengers checking-in”.
Videos have emerged of passengers queuing outside Terminal 2, awaiting instruction from DAA.
Sources told The Irish Times that passengers were subsequently allowed into the terminal after power was restored some time around 10am. However, there was widespread confusion among passengers amid lengthy queues for check-in and what sources described as a lack of co-ordination by DAA staff.
“The main check-in queues are chaos and it’s just insanity,” a source said. “Aer Lingus staff have been helpful but DAA staff were clueless.”
Passengers said security in Terminal 1 seemed to be coping well in the aftermath of the outage with passengers getting through that area in around 16 minutes.
DAA said passengers should continue to travel to the airport as normal on Sunday morning.
A social media post said: “A power outage in north County Dublin is impacting on operations in Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport this morning.
“Passengers should continue to travel to the airport as normal this morning, but some delays are likely.”
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