Despite a recent discussion between Michael O’Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, and the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, the impasse regarding the annual 32 million passenger limit at Dublin Airport remains unsolved. This meeting took place on a Thursday following a spate of intense media spotlight, where Mr O’Leary called for either the removal of the passenger limit or the Minister’s resignation. Meanwhile, Mr Ryan expressed that he was unable to intercede due to the issue being tangled up in planning.
Despite the clear disagreement on the passenger limit, the Minister did highlight the ministerial constraints and incapacity to influence the proceedings of an issue currently being assessed by the planning council. DAA, the airport operator, has approached Fingal County Council with the proposal to raise the limit to 40 million passengers. The current limit was established by An Bord Pleanála, the planning board, when Dublin Airport was given the green light to construct the north runway.
Attending the meeting, along with Eddie Wilson, the CEO of Ryanair DAC, and the airline group’s sustainability director, Thomas Fowler, was an opportunity to talk about the struggle inherent in achieving carbon neutrality within the aviation sector. The Minister acknowledged that Ryanair’s proficiency in this domain could provide substantial guidance and insight for future policymakers.
On the heels of the meeting, O’Leary penned an open letter reiterating his plea to lift the 32 million passenger limit, whether through instruction to the DAA or legislative changes. Furthermore, he demanded a seven-year hold on the current high passenger fees at Dublin, and urged the Minister to command the DAA to abandon plans for a €250 million tunnel, and instead invest in additional boarding gates.
As part of his proposed solutions, O’Leary advocated for a resurgence of a fee reduction scheme for all carriers at the airport for a period of five years, akin to the initiative set up by DAA post-Covid restrictions lifting. The CEO pointed out that should the cap be lifted, Ryanair could possibly raise Irish traffic numbers from the current 20 million a year to 30 million a year by 2030, inclusive of an increase in passengers at Dublin Airport from 15.7 million to 20 million. There could also be potential growth at Cork and Shannon, from 1.9 million to 4.5 million and three million respectively, according to his letter.