Ryanair is seeking High Court permission for a judicial review to challenge the night-time flight cap imposed by An Coimisiún Pleanála at Dublin Airport.
An Coimisiún Pleanála ruled during the summer that Dublin Airport would be permitted to utilise its north runway between 6am and midnight, compared to the previous hours of 7am to 11pm.
The cap limits the number of night-time flights and has been condemned by Ryanair, claiming it will harm transatlantic traffic and limit airport growth.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, argues that the caps breach EU rights and threaten the viability of Dublin Airport as a major transport hub.
Protests from residents regarding noise from the airport are planned, highlighting community concerns over increased flight restrictions.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) decided against pursuing a judicial review, citing uncertainty that could impact their ability to address passenger capacity issues.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary shared, “These two artificial caps at Dublin Airport are unlawful. They are in breach of the EU’s fundamental right to freedom of movement and are also in breach of the EU-US Open Skies Agreement. Any competent government would by now have already scrapped the original 32m traffic cap at Dublin Airport, given that the January 2025 Programme for Government promises to do so ‘as soon as possible Ryanair has no choice but to seek a judicial review of this latest unlawful planning stupidity – and we have every confidence that this second illegal cap will be overturned by the courts, especially while our do-nothing Transport Minister sits on his hands ‘pondering his options’ during nine months of useless inactivity.,”
DAA CEO Kenny Jacobs shared, “This cap would allow for airport growth is false. “An Coimisiún Pleanála’s claim that this cap would allow for airport growth is false,” an airline spokesperson claimed in July. An Coimisiún Pleanála is imposing a new traffic cap of 35,672 night movements per annum when that capacity will likely be reached this year. This will further block investment in based aircraft activity.”
