Michael O’Leary, the boss of Ryanair, has made strong comments about Dublin Airport’s passenger cap, calling it “stupid”, “bogus”, and “idiotic”. But what exactly is this passenger cap and why are airlines, including Ryanair, so against it?
The passenger cap at Dublin Airport was set at 32 million in 2007 and has not been changed since. It was introduced as a condition for building Terminal 2 due to concerns about congestion on the roads leading to the airport. The cap limits the number of passengers who can pass through the airport each year.
This year, it is expected that the cap will be breached, with an estimated 33 million passengers passing through Dublin Airport. The Irish Aviation Authority has a plan to prevent this from happening again, which means that the airport’s growth will be limited. Airlines argue that this will lead to increased demand for the same number of seats, resulting in higher prices for passengers.
Airlines like Ryanair are particularly affected by the cap, as they are allocated a limited number of seats despite high demand. Newcomers to the airport, such as US carriers Delta and American Airlines, are also unable to set up operations due to the cap.
The government has stated that it cannot intervene in the cap issue, as planning decisions are made by local councils. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has applied to raise the cap to 40 million, but the final decision is still pending. Even if the cap is raised, it may face challenges and delays due to planning objections.
In the meantime, airlines have taken legal action against the Irish Aviation Authority to block the plan to limit air traffic at Dublin Airport. The case is set to be heard in December, with airlines arguing that they are being unfairly constrained by the passenger cap.
Overall, the passenger cap at Dublin Airport has sparked controversy among airlines and industry players, with concerns about how it will impact air travel, prices, and future growth at the airport. The outcome of the legal challenge and the decision on raising the cap will have significant implications for the aviation industry in Ireland.