Ryanair has slammed the brakes on expanding passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.
The airline had big plans to up Irish traffic by 50% over the next eight years but got tripped up by the current passenger limit of 32 million a year.
The company’s leaders believe this cap is stifling growth and they’re pushing the government to act fast to lift it.
While Dublin’s plans are on pause, Ryanair assures that airports in Cork, Shannon, and Knock can expect more action.
Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, didn’t mince his words: “Dublin Airport is a piece of national infrastructure and we cannot wait four years or longer from planning delays to have the cap lifted” He’s calling on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin with a clear message: “grow, or go.”
O’Leary’s insistence on urgent action points to opportunities the Irish economy might miss out on. Ryanair has already redirected three aircraft to southern Italy, taking with them jobs that could’ve boosted Dublin’s economy.
He argues “if the Government cannot intervene by ministerial order then it should pass legislation to enable the cap to be increased.”
What’s Holding Back Dublin Airport?
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) isn’t sitting idle.
They’ve put forward plans to handle up to 40 million passengers a year. But planning conditions fixed since 2007 are causing a stir.
While Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance, backs more passengers in line with national aviation goals, he points out “This is being dealt with by Fingal County Council and it wouldn’t really be appropriate for me to be involved in a matter that is now being dealt with through our planning process.”
The government is clearly keeping its distance while these plans are under review.
Looking Ahead: Ryanair’s Plans Outside Dublin
Even with Dublin’s constraints, Ryanair isn’t slowing down.
They’re adding 50 new Boeing 737s and launching 80 new routes in Europe. They expect to bump up their passenger numbers from 183.5 million to over 200 million this year.
Yet, Dublin’s expansion talks are stuck in limbo, with the airline brass and government officials still hashing it out.
For travelers, the outcome of these talks could be a game-changer for how they experience Ireland. As the peak travel season is on the horizon, all eyes are on the government.
It’s decision time on how to balance the ambition for growth with the nitty-gritty of planning and maintaining Dublin Airport’s capability to connect Ireland to the rest of the world.