Regulators confirmed plans to limit airlines at Dublin Airport to 25.2 million passengers next summer in a move on Monday that faced immediate legal action from Ryanair.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) last month proposed the limit in a bid to keep passenger numbers within the 32 million per year cap imposed by planners in 2007 to manage traffic congestion on the roads around the airport. On Monday the authority confirmed that it would limit airlines to a “capacity of 25.2 million passengers for the summer 2025 scheduling season”, costing carriers one million seats between next March and October.
The authority added that this was in line with last month’s draft decision and the proposal put forward by Dublin Airport’s operator, State company DAA.
Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, said the airline would immediately ask the High Court and European courts to “stop this absurd self-harm inflicted on Irish aviation”. He predicted that European courts would throw out the IAA decision, which he claimed was unlawful.
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Aer Lingus argued that the IAA had no basis for the decision, and warned that it was assessing legal options.
Both airlines have already asked the High Court to review a 13 million passenger limit imposed between this month and next March. The case is due to be heard in December.
It emerged at the weekend that Airlines for America, whose members include US-based American Airlines, JetBlue and United, is seeking to join the case. The organisation says the move breaches the EU-US open skies treaty, which allows both jurisdictions’ airlines free access to the other’s airports.
The IAA’s decision will limit the number of take-off and landing slots allocated to airlines at Dublin over next summer. Industry figures predict the loss of one million seats will boost air fares, limit choice and hinder the launch of new routes from the country’s biggest airport.
DAA chief executive Kenny Jacobs calculated that it would cost the economy between €500 million and €700 million. “There are also real consequences for airlines, people working at the airport and the travelling public, as well as knock-on impacts on tourism and jobs.”
Mr Jacobs noted that DAA, which expects to breach the 32 million limit this year, could not stop airlines using slots or passengers from boarding planes.
Mr O’Leary repeated last week’s call on Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to direct the IAA to approve all airlines’ requests for extra slots at Dublin Airport. He argued that the Minister can do this under the Aviation Regulation Act, but the Department of Transport says that this power relates only general policy directions, not specific operational issues.
The airline boss also called on Mr Ryan and Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin to resign.
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