Aer Lingus weighs up legal action against Dublin Airport passenger cap

Aer Lingus will consider legal action against a 14.4m winter passenger limit that regulators have imposed on Dublin Airport this winter, chief executive Lynne Embleton said on Friday. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) will limit airlines operating from Dublin to 14.4m seats from October 27th to March 29th to aid airport operator, State company DAA, in staying within a 32m passengers-per-year cap set by planners. On Friday, Embleton said the airline would “carefully consider legal action” specifically against the IAA decision, adding that Aer Lingus did not believe the authority was right to take this step. She repeated calls for action over the overall 32m a year cap, warning that it was hitting the travelling public and the economy. “Dublin Airport is a critical piece of strategic national infrastructure, and the passenger cap issue needs to be urgently resolved – this requires both leadership from Government and action by the parties involved,” she said.<br/>