DAA CEO Kenny Jacobs stated that US airlines require more slots at Dublin Airport for increased operations and are concerned about trade restrictions.
The Open Skies Treaty between the US and EU is central to discussions about aviation regulations and domestic planning conditions affecting air traffic.
Jacobs advocates for national oversight of large infrastructure projects in Ireland, suggesting a shift away from local council decisions to prioritise national interests.
In 2023, the United States warned they could impose sanctions on Dutch airline KLM after the Netherlands announced it would cut flights at Schiphol Airport, claiming it was a violation of the Open Skies Agreement between Washington and Brussels.
Kenny Jacobs shared: “US carriers are threatening to raise the passenger with their Department of Trade that this is an unfair trade restriction on US carriers operating at Dublin.
“If they can’t get an increase in slots, that reciprocal action should be taken.
“I hope that doesn’t happen but we’re living in interesting times between the US and EU.”
Ultimately in Ireland, big infrastructure should apply directly to a group of specialist planners that make decisions quickly and make decisions in the national interest. Not local interests and I think that’s really a different model. Certainly, in our experience, it’s better done at a national level.”
“There’s a treaty between the US and the EU on open skies and that open skies treaty is the highest power when it comes to law. No domestic planning condition or no EU regulation can do anything that gets in the way of that open skies treaty. The US carriers are arguing that,, in Ireland you have a domestic planning condition that’s getting in the way of the open skies treaty.’
Ryanair and Aer Lingus have been arguing that you have EU regulation that should take precedence over the domestic planning condition.”
