There could be turbulent times ahead for Dublin Airport as it prepares to exceed a long-standing passenger cap.
The airport’s operator, DAA, has warned that this year’s passenger numbers are expected to reach nearly 33 million, surpassing the 32 million limit imposed 16 years ago when the second terminal was constructed.
This comes after a record-breaking summer that saw ten million passengers pass through the airport.
Kenny Jacobs, CEO of DAA, warned that the breach of this cap could have serious consequences, including potential job losses next year.
The cap has become a contentious issue, with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary arguing that it forces airlines to divert flights away from Dublin and calling for it to be scrapped altogether.
In response, Fingal County Council has begun a planning enforcement investigation, focusing on complaints that the cap has already been breached.
While DAA has applied to increase the passenger limit to 40 million per year, a decision on the matter is still pending.
Meanwhile, a public consultation with local community groups has been announced, aiming to consider their views before any final decision is made.
There has been heavy lobbying of Government and airlines, that smaller and regional airports like Cork and Shannon should be used more as they have the capacity to deal with the surplus of passengers that Dublin may not be able to cater for much longer.
