Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary has warned of a potential massive upheaval at Dublin Airport during the festive period because of the restrictions on passenger numbers, which could result in a return ticket costing as much as €1,000. During a meeting with the Oireachtas transport committee, he insisted the government must urgently address the maximum allowance of 32 million passengers at Dublin Airport.
There are two possible legislative solutions being considered by the government while the planning process is ongoing, according to the committee. However, Ryanair’s request for additional passenger volume during Christmas, school holidays, and sport events has been turned down due to the airport’s current limit on passenger numbers, as explained by O’Leary.
If the government does not intervene urgently, he warns of a potential significant disruption during Christmas, with one-way tickets potentially costing €500, and €1,000 for a round-trip. This follows similar warnings issued by the airline last month.
O’Leary anticipates financial gain if the situation remains unchanged, stating he will “make a fortune this Christmas”. He also expressed that even if the current cap of 32 million passengers is challenged through planning processes, it could take up to four years due to the expected appeals.
While some flights could potentially be redirected to Belfast, O’Leary indicated that the majority of passengers, which make up 65% of Ryanair’s inbound traffic in Ireland, prefer Dublin, ruling out Shannon or Cork as alternative options.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan, had not responded to a proposal submitted by Ryanair aimed at boosting growth in Ireland. Additional details will be reported as they are released.