The series also included Shannon and Cork airports and how they are likely to be both fighting for the coveted number 2 spot for passenger numbers behind Dublin Airport, which is ever unlikely to be surpassed as the number 1 airport in the country. The series can be found in the Irish Examiner Archives.

Meanwhile, flights to Orlando will be hit with an €85 levy, up €10, and the levy on trips to New York, Boston and Washington will rise €10 to €75. Short-haul flights remain free of surcharges. Aer Lingus chalked the latest increase down to “the soaring cost of oil”, rejecting accusations of “profiteering”.

Corporate affairs director Enda Corneille, however, last night admitted the charges were “getting close to” the peak passengers would tolerate. With limited scope for further increases, Aer Lingus is believed to be considering mothballing one of its long-haul planes in Dublin this winter, mirroring Ryanair’s decision to ground “three to four planes” here.

Ryanair is to increase the amounts it charges passengers for using check-in desks and checking in baggage. The new charges take effect immediately for new bookings.

For all bookings made from today, the airline’s checked-in baggage fee will increase from €6 to €9 per bag and the airport check-in fee will increase from €3 to €4.

Ryanair says it wants to encourage more passengers to check in online and travel with just carry-on luggage in order to cut the number of airport check-in desks it uses and the number of handling staff it employs.

Click on the link below to view the report from Heavenly on Opening day.

Heavenly Mountain Resort Blog » Blog Archive » IT’S OPENING DAY