Platinum VIP, the private terminal service at Dublin Airport, has expanded its capacity with the addition of four new suites, increasing the total to ten. The expansion will allow the private terminal to accommodate an additional 26,000 passengers a year bringing overall numbers closer to 66,000 guests. This development is a response to sustained demand from businesspeople, corporate executives, international delegations, and private individuals seeking a unique and discreet airport experience.
The little-known facility, tucked away after Terminal 1, operates 24/7, 364 days of the day, and offers an alternative to the main terminals with private parking, security screening, and direct chauffeur transfers to and from aircraft. The expansion also includes the launch of the Sean Lemass Room, a high-spec boardroom equipped for video conferencing, designed to support business passengers who require meeting space while in transit.
Ronan O’Donoghue, General Manager of Platinum VIP, said the expansion addresses a long-standing capacity issue: “Our biggest challenge up to now has been managing disappointment. We had to decline booking requests regularly as we book up so fast. The opening of the four new suites upstairs changes this. Given increasing demand from passengers travelling with all airlines, including budget airlines, especially for special occasions like weddings abroad, honeymoons, birthdays and anniversaries, we may need even more.” O’Donoghue also highlighted the terminal’s critical role during the pandemic in supporting business continuity: “During the pandemic, it became clear to me just how indispensable Platinum VIP was for Ireland’s business connectivity. While I’d always appreciated its value to corporate travellers, COVID revealed the extent to which executives relied on us, not just for speed and discretion, but as a functional space to do business. We were fielding urgent requests from CEOs eager to route their board members through our terminal. Thankfully, we were able to meet most of those needs.”
Kenny Jacobs, daa CEO, said, “This isn’t just about adding four new suites, it’s about showcasing what the Irish do best. Platinum’s expansion and fit out isn’t just a nod to Ireland’s rich aviation heritage, it reflects our grá for genuinely great hospitality. This year we’re celebrating 85 years of Dublin Airport connecting Ireland with the world, while giving our passengers a really top-class experience that’s pure Irish, through and through.”
Platinum VIP previously supported up to 40,000 passengers annually and is staffed by a dedicated team of 34 professionals. The team has won multiple international customer service awards reflecting the customer centric culture that prevails. The expansion
includes enhancements to catering, with four new chefs joining the team to broaden the menu offering.
The new suites are decorated with 25 archival photographs that capture the rich history of Dublin Airport over the past 85 years. Highlights include the visits of John F Kennedy, Muhammed Ali, Cary Grant and Princes Grace of Monaco as well as the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland, and the appointment of Grainne Cronin as Aer Lingus’s first female pilot in 1979. The expansion also features bespoke furniture by Finglas-based maker Tom Delaney and curated artwork from Gormley’s Art Gallery.
While the new suites incorporate design elements that reflect Dublin Airport’s 85-year history, including restored 1960s fixtures and archival photography, the focus remains on operational excellence and customer service for passengers travelling with any airline on any class of ticket.
