On 7th October, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) published the coordination parameters which sets Dublin Airport’s Capacity during Summer 2025, that runs from 30 March to 25 October 2025.
daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, welcomed the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) confirmation of its final decision to impose a seat cap mechanism for Dublin Airport.
But IATA, the global air travel industry chief, and Irishman Willie Walsh has other views, as per him, Dublin Airport’s 32 million a-year passenger limit has become an “international joke”.
"It's become a joke outside of Ireland," Mr Walsh said.
"I speak to international airlines who want to serve the Irish market.
"For them, Dublin is serving the Irish market and they can't because we have this restriction," he added.
Irish and US airlines are taking legal action over a 32 million a-year passenger cap imposed on the country’s biggest airport by planners in 2007 to control road traffic in the area.
Walsh, who previously headed IAG, the group that includes British Airways and Lufthansa, declared on Wednesday that his industry has branded the limit a joke.
“International airlines want to serve the Irish market, they want to serve Dublin, and they can’t because of this restriction,” he told the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA).
He warned that Irish people would face higher fares as a consequence of the cap, as demand for air travel exceeded the airport’s capacity as a result of the “artificial” constraint.
In a press release, daa said,
"daa is now reviewing the decision and awaiting the detailed supporting document which is due for publication later this week. However, the decision to cap seats next summer, while bad for Irish jobs, the economy and connectivity, should help Dublin Airport comply with planning in 2025."
The airport this month warned it was on course to overshoot that by 1m passengers this year, despite having reduced passenger numbers across the year by approximately 650,000.
Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), said in its press release,
"The IAA’s role includes identifying and determining the maximum available capacity at Dublin Airport and setting the consequent parameters for slot allocation."
"The IAA is required to take account of all relevant technical, operational and environmental constraints. Such constraints may include the capacity of runways, airspace capacity, availability of aircraft stands, various passenger processes such as check-in and security screening, and planning constraints imposed on daa by the planning authorities in the form of planning conditions."
As per daa, had the IAA not made this decision as slots regulator, daa would continue to be left holding the problem of trying to comply with planning laws but without a solution in its power. daa says,
While Dublin Airport wants to grow, cutting the seats coming to Dublin is the only way to meet the planning condition. Therefore today’s decision is welcomed by daa.
While a planning application has been lodged to lift the cap to 40m, the process is expected to take years, prompting airlines to warn of potential damage to Ireland's economy and call on the Government to take action.
Walsh, a former head of Aer Lingus, said the Government will have to intervene if a long-term solution is to be found. He also acknowledged that air fares have been rising over the last two years but pointed out that the increases lagged rocketing consumer prices.
The Irish Government has repeatedly said that it has no powers to intervene in the planning process.
Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) adds further,
"The role of the IAA does not encompass any powers to amend or revoke planning conditions or make any decision to enforce or not enforce conditions."
" These are all matters to be determined by the planning authorities, such as Fingal County Council. The IAA notes, that if the 32m planning condition was not a relevant constraint for Summer 2025, the IAA would be declaring a significantly higher terminal, and therefore airport, capacity."
"Accordingly, this would facilitate all Summer 2024 slot series, and anticipated growth and new entrants in the Season, including ad hoc slots."
Meanwhile, Ryanair has vowed to shift more flights to Belfast International if the controversial passenger cap at Dublin Airport remains in place.
Carrier’s chief marketing officer Dara Brady said the Co Antrim airport was its “closest viable alternative” if the 32 million annual passenger limit is not scrapped.
Ryanair has been one of the most vocal opponents of the cap and has heavily criticised the Irish Government for failing to address the issue.
It has called on Ireland’s Transport minister Eamon Ryan to issue a letter of direction to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to add additional flight slots at Dublin Airport while the airline is also set to challenge the restriction in the courts.
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