Airlines for America urged the Irish Government to remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport in a series of letters last year, citing risks to US carriers and Ireland’s economy.
A4A senior vice president Keith Glatz argued that eliminating the cap would enhance Dublin’s status as a key international hub and bolster business opportunities.
A4A’s concerns include a violation of the EU-US open skies agreement, affecting flights between the regions.
The DAA supports the urgency of removing the cap and has applied for an increase to 36 million passengers annually, though the planning process is lengthy.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has initiated discussions with stakeholders to resolve the issue.
Keith Glatz wrote: “Removing the cap would not only strengthen Dublin Airport’s status as a vital hub for connectivity but would also unlock new opportunities for businesses, passengers and the broader economy. This is critical to A4A, as our members have key operations to and from Ireland, as well as long-standing alliance relationships with Irish carriers that serve the world’s most important aviation market — the transatlantic.”
A4A sharded: “We have been urging all governments involved — the Irish Government, the European Commission and the US government — to urgently resolve this matter before irreparable damage is done not only to US airlines, but also to Dublin Airport and the Irish economy.
DAA shared: “We need it removed within the next six months and faster planning decisions to add new terminal capacity. If we remain in the current planning process, it will take years. Every solution should be considered to unblock this impasse and protect connectivity, tourism, and jobs. The cap may be increasingly seen as a trade barrier between Ireland and the US”.
Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien shared. “It is very important for the region and the country in terms of jobs and economic growth but it needs to develop in a sustainable way that considers the local community,”
