Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) say plans to be submitted on Friday to expand capacity at Dublin Airport will create up to 20,000 new jobs and align airport capacity with population growth in Ireland, with a 25pc capacity increase planned by 2030, matching anticipated population growth.
DAA ceo Kenny Jacobs told Newstalk the 20,000 new jobs is in addition to the over 100,000 jobs currently supported by the airport.
DAA intends to ask An Bord Pleanála to lift the passenger cap that was put in place when the airport’s second terminal was approved to allow the airport’s capacity to increase to 40m passengers per year. While the passenger cap won’t affect Christmas travel this year, it might prevent airlines from increasing flights for major events such as next year’s Europa League final.
The DAA intends to submit the planning application by the end of this year.
The airport operator planning application
The cap was implemented 16 years ago to manage the airport’s impact on traffic in Dublin, but public transport infrastructure hasn’t improved since then.
The DAA aims to have the cap lifted through its new infrastructure application, supported by airlines and organizations like the American Chamber.
The DAA also plans to grow Cork Airport by 40pc.
Dublin Airport’s business connectivity is driving 2.3pc of the Irish economy, according to research commissioned by DAA.
