Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has said he expects nothing positive – regarding the passenger cap at Dublin Airport – to result from his much anticipated meeting with Junior Transport Minister James Lawless this morning.
Minister Lawless is either due or hoping to meet a wide variety of relevant parties about the cap; including Aer Lingus, the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA), Ibec, the Irish Aviation Authority, the Restaurants Association of Ireland and Fingal County Council.
The Minister has already met with Daa, Cork Airport and Shannon Airport. This morning he met with Mr O’Leary at Ryanair’s Swords headquarters.
Minister Lawless is due to consider Mr O’Leary’s suggestion of Transport Minister Eamon Ryan signing a letter of instruction to the Irish Aviation Authority, temporarily telling it to issue additional slots at Dublin Airport while a decision is pending on the future of the passenger cap.
Mr O’Leary, however, said he believes Minister Lawless will do nothing to act on that suggestion.
Mr O’Leary also said the suggested temporary solution of pushing more flights through regional airports, to ease numbers at Dublin, is not a viable solution; maintaining people want to fly to Dublin, not Shannon or Cork.
