Aviation industry boss Willie Walsh has warned that Aer Lingus‘ transatlantic operations between Ireland and the US could be jeopardised if the Government doesn’t lift the passenger cap at Dublin Airport sooner rather than later.
The Government did, last week, approve legislation allowing for the scrapping of the controversial 32 million passenger per year limit at Dublin Airport. However, it is likely to be late 2026, or even early 2027, before the cap is eventually fully lifted.
A former head of Aer Lingus, British Airways and the wider IAG Group, Mr Walsh is currently director general of global aviation industry representative group the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the largest aviation lobby group in the world.
And, speaking to the Business Post, this week, he said the Government must now expedite the lifting of the cap.
In the interview with the Business Post‘s Ellie Donnelly, Mr Walsh said: “It is a serious risk to the Irish economy and the Government really does need to move much more quickly now to avoid the risk associated with a formal court ruling, which will probably come in a few months time.
“My view is the Taoiseach is going to have a very interesting meeting with the US President when he goes to the White House [for the traditional St Patrick’s Day visit] because, without question, this will be raised unless there’s a clear signal that this cap is going to be removed.”
In the interview, Mr Walsh also tackled the question of US aviation lobby group Airlines for America (A4A) – which recently complained to the US Department of Transport about the Dublin passenger cap and asked for a curtailment or suspension of Irish airlines’ inbound US operations until the cap disappeared. That only means one thing, according to Mr Walsh.
“It doesn’t specifically name Aer Lingus, but do I believe there’s a risk? Absolutely, without question. They are the only Irish registered airline that flies into the US. It is a serious risk,” he said.
“You’ve go to look at how this administration operates in the US. They are going to go to bat for US industry, and they will treat this – I believe – in a very serious way.
“If it ends up with transatlantic flights being disrupted, maybe even suspended, what does that mean for trade between Ireland and the US? What does it mean for all of the US entities who are based in Ireland? The stakes have certainly gone up considerably,” Mr Walsh said.
