Ryanair has issued a “grow or go” ultimatum to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin; challenging them to scrap the 32 million per year passenger cap at Dublin Airport and allow airline growth at the country’s largest and most important connection point – or resign, instead.
Ryanair has freshly urged Ministers Ryan and Martin to take “urgent action” – if even on an interim basis – and scrap the Dublin Airport traffic cap, passing emergency legislation to do so.
Speaking to media in Dublin, today, Ryanair group chief executive Michael O’Leary said the passenger cap is blocking Ryanair’s plan to grow its Irish passenger traffic by 50% by 2030.
Mr O’Leary said Ryanair expects to grow traffic at Cork, Shannon and Ireland West Airport (Knock) this summer. However, he said the airline cannot grow at Dublin due to the passenger cap and plans to raise airport fees over the next three years.
Ultimately, Ryanair’s summer 2024 growth plans – 50 new planes, 80 more routes, 16 million more passengers – will bypass Dublin and benefit other European economies such as Spain, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Albania and Morocco in northern Africa, the Ryanair boss warned.
Ryanair group chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“It is clear after 4 years of inaction from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan that he is either unwilling or unable to deliver his National Aviation Policy, which is to; (1) enhance Ireland’s connectivity, (2) foster growth of aviation in Ireland, and (3) to maximise the contribution of aviation to Ireland’s growth and development. After 4 years as Minister, Eamon Ryan has delivered zero growth, a traffic cap at Dublin Airport, and Ireland is losing aircraft, traffic, tourism and jobs to Italy, Spain and even Albania! Dublin is 1 of just 3 EU capital city airports this year with zero growth, and it joins the distinguished list of Slovakia and Serbia as capital city airports that have failed to grow in 2024.
“The Dublin Airport traffic cap of 32m is an artificial restriction which was imposed by the planning authorities in 2007 as a condition for the 2nd terminal. It was designed to prevent surface access at Dublin Airport “collapsing”. It is clear 16 years later that there is no issue with road access at Dublin Airport, which is why Dublin Airport has now opened a 2nd runway increasing capacity at Dublin to 60m passenger. “While there is ample room to grow in Dublin’s terminals and runways, this growth is blocked by an artificial traffic cap and Eamon Ryan’s failure to act.
“If Ireland had a capable Transport Minister committed to delivering our National Aviation Policy, then he/she would intervene to lift this cap while the planning matter is being dealt with, or better still, pass legislation to raise the traffic cap at Dublin Airport to 50m passengers. Dublin Airport is a national asset. “It is our main gateway on and off the island of Ireland. Its growth cannot be left to a few County Councillors in Fingal or the usual planning numbys and loonies who will block or delay this cap for up to 4 years.
Ireland has a Green Transport Minister and a Green Tourism Minister. After 4 years of failure, these 2 Ministers have shown they are sadly not up to the job. If they don’t act now to abolish this traffic cap at Dublin Airport, then they should quit. The choice is simple. These 2 Green Ministers should either GROW OR GO.”
