Ryanair has called on the pending new Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael-led government to immediately abolish the Dublin Airport traffic cap as soon as they take power in January.
Ryanair has confirmed that one-way fares have hit £500 on 10 inbound flights from London to Dublin over the next four days leading up to Christmas; 3 flights on Friday 20th, 4 flights on Saturday 21st, 2 flights on Sunday 22nd, and 1 flight on Tuesday 24th Dec.
None of these flights would have £500 air fares if Ryanair and other airlines had been granted the extra slots they applied for in Sept to add up to 200,000 extra seats to/from Dublin this Christmas.
The failure of Green ex-Minister Eamon Ryan to abolish this cap has led directly to these record high air fares, and over 20,000 Dublin passengers flying home via Belfast this Christmas.
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: “We regret these very high one-way prices but they were inevitable on the last few seats when failed Green Transport Minister Eamon Ryan refused to write a letter to the IAA which would have allowed Ryanair and other airlines to add over 200,000 extra seats at Dublin this Christmas. We know there are huge numbers of passengers travelling home to Dublin each Christmas, and it is vital that the airlines are given permission to add extra flights to cater for these increased passenger numbers.
“We welcome the formation talks of the new Govt, and we welcome the fact that both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael committed in their manifestos to abolish the Dublin Airport cap. Ryanair commits that if this cap is lifted, there will be no £500 fares in Christmas 2025 because we will be allowed to add 200,000 extra seats when demand increases, and this is the only way to keep fares low for Irish people travelling home for Christmas. These record high air fares show the urgent need for the new Govt to scrap the Dublin Airport Cap, and allow the airlines to use the 2 runways at Dublin to add extra flights for Rugby Internationals, Cheltenham and bank holidays and Christmas, so that we can keep fares in and out of Ireland lower than these £500 air fares. Thankfully the Greens have gone, and now this damaging Dublin Airport Cap should go with them.”
