- War and economic uncertainty slow Dublin Airport passenger growth
- IAA proposes cutting charges to €8.58 from €10.39
- DAA seeks charges rising to €13 by 2031 for expansion
- Aer Lingus and Ryanair have reduced capacity
- airBaltic suspended Dublin-Riga service
War and economic uncertainty have slowed passenger growth at Dublin Airport, according to operator DAA. The Irish Aviation Authority has proposed cutting airline passenger charges to €8.58 next year from €10.39, while DAA has sought higher charges to fund expansion. Carriers have reduced capacity on a rolling basis amid higher fuel costs linked to the US-Iran conflict and wider economic pressures.
Aer Lingus has cut or reduced some routes and Ryanair previously trimmed its summer schedule by 10pc. Air Baltic suspended its Dublin-Riga service. DAA has wanted charges rising to a maximum of €13 per passenger by 2031 to support a €5.6 billion expansion for an extra 10 million passengers a year. The regulator has argued higher volumes will spread costs and allow lower per-passenger fees.
Ryanair has offered extra seats if deeper cuts are delivered. A final decision has been due later this year. The Irish Aviation Authority has proposed the lower charge to support competitiveness while DAA has sought higher charges to fund infrastructure development at the airport.
