Plastic Bag Charges at Dublin Airport

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The required transparent plastic bags for bringing liquids and toiletries under 100ml through customs which were available free of charge will now incur a cost of €1 for two bags. The plastic bags will be on sale from vending machines in various locations throughout Dublin Airport.

Under the EU regulations the following must be conditions regarding liquids and gels must be adhered to:

You can only take liquids, gels, pastes, lotions and cosmetics in containers of no more than 100 millilitres in size through the passenger security point at all EU airports.
These containers must be carried in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag and presented separately to the security screening officers.
There is a limit of one transparent plastic bag per person.
The volume of the transparent plastic bag may not be greater than one litre, 20cm x 20cm.
The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.

Since the bags were introduced in 2006 following an apparent plot to set off explosives on planes flying to the United States, the DAA has handed out seven million bags at a cost of €70,000.

“We’ve been giving the clear bags out free of charge for 2.5 years, and we’re probably the only airport left in Europe still doing so. Passengers don’t have to purchase the bags if they plan ahead.” – Dublin Airport Authority

Cork Airport is also charging €1 for two plastic bags while Shannon Airport is continuing to provide the bags to passengers free of charge. The opportunity to charge for plastic bags follows the publication of the DAA annual report recently which showed a 28% decline in profits for 2008 combined with an expected 11% drop in passenger numbers expected during 2009.