Ryanair has urged Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to usher in a new era of growth at Dublin Airport, by overhauling car parking facilities and scrapping the controversial passenger cap amongst other measures.
Following a meeting between the Minister and the airline’s management, Ryanair set out a 5-point plan it would like to see the Minister deliver on:
(1) “Scrap the bogus 32m passenger cap at Dublin Airport. You can do this by Ministerial direction to the DAA, or by legislation.”
(2) “Freeze the current (excessive) price cap at Dublin of €16.22 (per dep tax) for the next 7 years to 2030.
(3) Direct the DAA to scrap its unneccessary €250m tunnel, and divert these funds instead to developing additional boarding gates in T1, and additional low cost car parking, especially for Irish customers during the summer peak at Dublin.
(4) Reintroduce a traffic growth support scheme (TGSS) with a 100% discount on aeronautical charges for all growth at Dublin Airport, for all airlines, resettable each year, for the next 5 years.
(5) Implement the proposed noise quota system for night time flights at Dublin Airport, and abolish the current defective night time movement cap.
Additionally, in another open letter to Minister Ryan, Ryanair group chief executive, Michael O’Leary, said it is “not too late to start delivering [on the National Aviation Policy]: “In the 12 months prior to the next election, it is time for Ireland’s Transport Minister to take urgent action to (1) secure Ryanair’s ambitious growth plans for Ireland; (2) to demand that Europe delivers effective ATC reform, starting with the protection of overflights during national ATC strikes; and (3) to reallocate the 75% of Ireland’s ETS revenue stream away from funding the Department of Education budget to funding real and meaningful carbon efficiency projects – such as SAF supply and technology improvements – in Irish aviation.
“We look forward to working with you to achieve these targets. However, if you continue to dither and duck these challenges, then we will continue to highlight/condemn your failure to do so. Theis Green growth opportunity sits on your desk; it’s now time for action on the issues from Ireland’s Transport Minister.”
