DUBLIN ā The Dublin Airport Authority (daa) has issued a public apology and announced it will refund approximately ā¬350,000 to over 4,400 customers who were overcharged for car park bookings earlier this year. The refunds, which follow an intervention by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), are a result of a “pricing error” that occurred during two “flash sales” in March and May 2025.
The Overcharging Incident
The issue was brought to the attention of the CCPC by a number of consumer complaints. An internal review by daa revealed that during two specific promotional campaignsāthe “Holiday Blue Flash Sale” in March and a “Long Term Car Parking Promotion” in Mayāa flat daily rate of ā¬10 or ā¬12 was incorrectly applied. This error overrode cheaper off-peak prices, resulting in customers paying more than they would have on a normal, non-promotional day.
Examples of the overcharging provided by the CCPC include:
- A customer who paid ā¬110 for 10 days of parking during a sale, while the price for the same period was ā¬83 the day before and after the sale.
- Another customer who booked a five-day stay for ā¬60 during a sale, only to find the price was ā¬56 after the promotion ended.
While the total amount of overcharges was just over ā¬25,000, daa has voluntarily committed to refunding the entire cost of each affected booking, bringing the total refund amount to approximately ā¬350,000. The individual overcharges ranged from ā¬1 to ā¬64, with the majority of affected customers (90%) being overcharged by less than ā¬12. The average overpayment was approximately ā¬5.90.
Response and Remedial Actions
In a statement, daa Chief Executive Kenny Jacobs personally apologized to all affected customers. “We got this wrong, and it shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “We’ve moved quickly to fix the issue and are now reimbursing everyone affected, automatically and in full. No forms, no hassle.”
The daa has confirmed that emails will be sent to all affected customers within the next 24 hours, and refunds will be processed directly to their original payment method within five to ten business days. As a “goodwill gesture,” the airport is also offering a 20% discount on future car park bookings to those impacted by the error.
The incident highlights the importance of consumer vigilance and the role of the CCPC in upholding consumer protection laws. CCPC Chair Brian McHugh welcomed daa’s swift response, noting that the intervention was made possible by consumers who reported the misleading pricing.
Context of Competition
The overcharging scandal comes at a time of increased competition in the Dublin Airport car park market. The “flash sales” in question coincided with the opening of a new competitor, Park2Travel, on the site of the former QuickPark. The CCPC had previously blocked daa’s attempt to purchase this site, citing concerns that it would create a near-monopoly and lead to higher prices for consumers.
This recent incident underscores the CCPC’s argument that “any promotions need to be grounded in real benefits to consumers” and that competition is vital for driving choice, better service, and innovation.
Looking Ahead
Dublin Airport has stated it has identified the cause of the error and implemented new checks and safeguards to prevent a similar incident from happening again. While the overcharging was a result of a systems error rather than a deliberate act, the scale of the refunds and the public apology demonstrate the airport’s commitment to restoring customer trust and transparency in its pricing.
About daa
The daa (Dublin Airport Authority) is a global airports and travel retail group with businesses in 16 countries. It owns and operates Dublin and Cork airports and has significant airport investment and management businesses.
