FCM Travel has raised serious concerns over the potential impact of the passenger cap not being raised at Dublin Airport.
It is warning of potential major disruptions to business travel between Ireland and the UK, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
It is especially worried about those reliant on frequent and last-minute travel to the UK and is calling for the passenger cap to be raised “for the good of all passengers”.
The Dublin Airport cap was set at 32 million per year in 2007 and has not been changed since.
Last month, ticket prices sold by FCM from Dublin to London were, on average, up nearly 24% compared to the same period last year.
“As capacity continues to shrink, we expect these prices could rise even further,” said Andy Hegley, Europe Managing Director, FCM Travel.
“Travel is a necessity, not a discretionary spend for corporates. It’s a key part of growth strategy for modern businesses looking to find new customers and ideas, to survive and thrive, but without lifting the current passenger cap, small businesses will feel the impacts the most.
FCM Travel’s concerns echo those recently reported by the Dublin Airport Authority, which warned that the current passenger cap could cost the Irish economy €500 million.
“This issue goes beyond tourism – it’s a matter of maintaining Ireland’s position as a business hub and ensuring Irish companies can continue to grow and capitalise on opportunities abroad in the most cost-effective way,” said Hegley.
“We’ve seen the Dublin to London route rebound to pre-pandemic levels with bookings increasing by 8% year on year (April to September). Over one third of Irish exports go to the UK and it’s an especially important market for small businesses who are looking to expand.
“We could see reduced flight availability, particularly at peak times, making it more difficult for our clients to book last-minute or convenient flights. Business customers, who often book trips one to two weeks out, are likely to face much higher fares as peak airline pricing hits during these windows.
“Longer travel times due to fewer direct flight options and increased congestion at the airport could also cause significant delays for time-sensitive business trips.”
