EU Backs Existence of Dublin Airport Passenger Cap in Sensational Ruling
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has backed the existence of the controversial 32 million passenger limit at Dublin Airport, effectively throwing a spanner in the works of attempts to abolish the cap.
In its ruling, the EU said Ireland’s aviation regulator – the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) – has the power to limit flight numbers in and out of Dublin Airport to accommodate a maximum of 32 million passengers per year. It said the allocation of airline slots “must reflect, in operational terms, all the capacity that is actually available at a co-ordinated airport.”
The ECJ added: “The Court concludes that such a limit must be taken into account when determining the coordination parameters."
The ECJ ruling follows a High Court challenge, here, by airport operator daa and a number of airlines, including Ryanair, in 2024 which was referred to the European Courts.
The new ruling will now be referred back to the Irish High Court, which will consider the new findings before reaching its own decision.
In the meantime, the Government has already passed legislation awarding it the power to abolish the passenger cap.
And, Ryanair has – in light of the ECJ ruling – demanded an immediate removal of the cap by the Irish Government, under the new legislation.
Ryanair Group Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary, said: "The time for further dither and delay by Mícheál Martin's government is over. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil got elected on a promise to abolish the Dublin Airport cap, and yet 21 months later, despite passing legislation allowing the Government to do so, they still haven't abolished this stupid and damaging 32 million cap. The American airlines are threatening to remove Aer Lingus landing rights in New York if Ireland doesn't abolish this stupid and self-defeating cap, so it is time to do so.
"We, the airlines and our passengers, are paying higher airport fees at Dublin Airport to fund the development of the second runway and we should be allowed to use it. Dublin Airport and Irish tourism can enter a new age of growth and success, but only when this stupid cap is finally abolished."
Mr O'Leary added: "Dublin Airport doesn't need a cap; it has two runways which is sufficient capacity for 60 million passengers per annum. We, the airlines and passengers who use Dublin Airport, should be allowed to grow and develop new routes, lower fares, and more choice for Irish consumers and visitors, but this can only happen when Mícheál Martin's Government finally honours its promise to abolish Dublin Airport's damaging and outdated 32 million traffic cap.
"In 2027, thanks to the IAA's reduction in Dublin fees, traffic at Dublin Airport will rise to 40 million passengers despite the current 32 million cap. It is now time to abolish this stupid cap altogether, and allow the airlines to deliver competition, choice, and lower fares for Irish consumers and visitors."
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