Airlines turn to incoming government to resolve Ireland’s airport cap row

Irish and US airlines are appealing to the incoming government to scrap an “outdated” cap on passenger numbers at Dublin airport that has made Ireland the only major European country where seat capacity is shrinking. The long-running dispute caused by local planning restrictions has spread to Europe’s top court, with the airline industry warning that it would harm Ireland’s economic growth. While the legal challenges from local and US carriers have temporarily staved off the Irish aviation authorities’ orders to comply with the cap for this year’s summer season, the battle highlights the rising tensions between local worries over the impact of airports and wider economic and industrial growth. In November 2023, the Dutch government shelved plans to cut flights at Schiphol airport, after pressure from airlines, the EU and the US. Some airlines have increased capacity thanks to the temporary stay of the cap. US carrier United Airlines plans to boost flights to Dublin for the summer 2025 season, starting at the end of March. However, capacity restrictions for the current winter season remain in force and the long-term uncertainty over the cap has led to the sector turning to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the two political parties expected to form a coalition with independents this month. Both parties promised to get rid of the cap during their election campaigns.<br/>