Ryanair has applied to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) for extra slots for Leinster Rugby charters to Bristol, La Rochelle and Cardiff in Dec 2024, and Jan/Feb 2025, so that Leinster can fulfil their ERCC and URC fixtures. It is likely the application will be turned down.
The application was publicised in advance of a meeting between Minister of State at the Department of Transport James Lawless and Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary at the Ryanair offices this morning.
This meeting marks the beginning of a consultation process with key stakeholders on the Dublin Airport passenger cap and other aviation issues. Meetings have been scheduled and invitations sent to stakeholders including Aer Lingus, Fingal County Council, the Irish Aviation Authority, Ibec, RAI (Restaurants Association of Ireland), ITAA (Irish Travel Agents Association) and others to be confirmed.
In a statement Ryanair said it has reached agreement with Leinster Rugby on these charters, subject to obtaining slots from the IAA. Ryanair expects the IAA to reject these slots, as these are extra flights, similar to Christmas extras and Rugby International extras, which the IAA has already confirmed will not be granted this year because of the 2007 Dublin Airport traffic cap.
Ryanair has sent Minister Eamon Ryan a draft Ministerial direction letter, which if he signs and sends to the IAA, will end the crisis of the Dublin Airport 32m traffic cap, until such time as Fingal CoCo makes the decision to scrap it.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said: “Yet again, we wish Leinster and their supporters every success in the ERCC and URC this winter. Sadly, we have not yet secured slots from the IAA for these extra Dublin flights to Bristol, La Rochelle and Cardiff, because of the outdated (2007) 32m passenger cap at Dublin Airport. Transport Minister Ryan, whose Constituency is in Dublin Bay South (the home of Leinster Rugby), has failed to take any action to scrap this outdated and irrelevant traffic cap. He can do so by simply directing the IAA to grant additional slots this winter for Leinster Rugby charters for Christmas, Rugby International and Cheltenham extras, but to date he has failed to act.
We now ask Minister Ryan; will Leinster Rugby have to travel to ERCC and URC fixtures by boat? Will they have to travel from Belfast or Cork to fulfil their away match fixtures this winter? This is the latest example of the absurdity of the Dublin Airport 32m passenger cap, and the urgent need for action by An Taoiseach Simon Harris and An Tánaiste Micheál Martin to scrap this cap where failed Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has repeatedly refused to act.
Ryanair calls again on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to issue a direction to the IAA under Section 10 of the Aviation Regulation Act, 2001 to authorise all additional slot requests from airlines for Leinster Rugby charters, for Christmas extras, and for the extra flights that operate every year for the Rugby Internationals and Cheltenham in March.
Minister Lawless said: “I look forward to hearing the views of all stakeholders, in pursuit of creative solutions to this issue.”
