Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Lynne Embleton has become the latest key stakeholder voice to call for an immediate – rather than gradual – lifting of the passenger limit at Dublin Airport.
While the Government, last month, approved the proposed removal of the 32 million per year passenger cap at Dublin Airport, it is understood that it will take at least until late 2026, if not early 2027, to officially remove the limitation.
The likes of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and IATA chief Willie Walsh have also voiced the need for a quick lifting of the cap in recent weeks.
Ms Embleton said: “Urgent resolution of the passenger cap issue is required from Government- it is imperative to now immediately enact legislation which will enable the Minister for Transport to remove the passenger cap and provide the certainty that is required for the Irish economy.”
In 2026, coinciding with the airline’s 90th anniversary, Aer Lingus will operate its largest-ever transatlantic summer schedule, adding new routes to Pittsburgh and Raleigh-Durham and increased frequency to New York, Boston, Nashville, Indianapolis and Orlando. Aer Lingus’ first direct service to Cancún, Mexico, also commenced in January 2026.
Aer Lingus reported strong financial growth for 2025, last week – a €77m increase in annual operating profits to €282m being driven by a bumper performance across the second and third quarters of the year on the back of strong capacity growth on its transatlantic services to North America.
Ms Embleton added: “2025 was a strong year for Aer Lingus. We reinforced our North Atlantic leadership and accelerated our transformation, with digital innovation, operational excellence and network expansion enabling us to deliver a 11.1% operating margin despite a significant increase in competitor capacity.”
