Travelbiz E-Zine
2
April
2025

Ryanair Welcomes High Court Ruling which lifts cap on Dublin Airport for Winter 2025 Schedule

#Traveltradetogether

Call on Govt to pass urgent legislation to remove the Dublin Airport cap.

Ryanair, Ireland’s No.1 airline, today (Wed, 2 Apr) welcomed today’s ruling by the Irish High Court to extend the stay on the Dublin Airport traffic cap beyond Summer 2025 into winter 2025. This allows airlines to add new routes and grow traffic and jobs at Dublin Airport next winter and revere the current slump in visitor numbers (down 30% in Feb). While Ryanair welcomes this today’s temporary relief by the Irish High Court, it highlights yet again the new Govts failure to scrap the Dublin Airport cap. The Program for Govt published in Jan, promised to scrap the Airport cap. Two months later no action has been taken. Ryanair calls on Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to pass urgent legislation, removing Dublin Airport from the dead hand of Fingal Co Co, and incompetent rulings by An Bord Pleanála. Ireland’s main Airport should not be subject to local planning restrictions, but should be treated as strategically important infrastructure, where planning decisions should be taken directly by the elected Govt via the Minister for Transport. Ryanair called on the Govt to pass legislation before the summer recess, removing Ireland’s airports from its failed planning process.

Ryanair Michael OLeary. Photo The Independent UK

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“We welcome today’s High Court ruling, where again the Courts have acted where the Govt has failed. After 5 years of inaction, we welcome the new Program for Govt, which promises to scrap the cap. However, after 60 days, no action has been taken. Irish airports must be treated as strategically important infrastructure and should be removed from the local planning process. Dublin Airport has opened a second runway, but the airlines can’t use it because of this illegal, 18-year-old, traffic cap. We should not have to waste time and money, going to the Courts to do the Govts work.

Today’s welcome High Court ruling highlights the Govts failure to act. We call on Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to pass urgent legislation, removing Dublin Airport from the local planning process, which is wholly inadequate for national gateway infrastructure. The time for dithering and delaying is over. Dublin Airport is losing out on traffic growth, because of an 18-year-old planning restriction, which is no longer relevant.

As President Trump today announces his tariffs on Europe, the Irish Govt must respond by making Ireland more competitive and encouraging growth. This week’s CSO figures show that visitor numbers to Ireland slumped by 30% in Feb, which is entirely due to the Dublin Airport traffic cap.

Pass legislation, scrap this cap, and allow Ryanair to get on with delivering new routes, traffic, tourism and jobs growth.”

Subscribe to our E-Zine

    More

    from latest edition

    Tourist Authority of Thailand hosts leisure & luxury in The Land of Smiles
    15th June 2025

    Tourist Authority of Thailand hosts leisure & luxury in The Land of Smiles

    Leaving Khun Kade at the beautiful Michelin 2 Key property The Sarojin with his warm and hospitable team in Khao Lak was indeed a wrench.

    Read more
    Trailblazing Travel Leader Jo Rzymowska Receives Royal Honour for Championing Inclusion and Driving Industry Change
    15th June 2025

    Trailblazing Travel Leader Jo Rzymowska Receives Royal Honour for Championing Inclusion and Driving Industry Change

    Acclaimed travel expert and industry changemaker, Jo Rzymowska, has today been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List for her outstanding contribution to diversity and inclusion in the t...

    Read more
    Halloween Horror Nights Resurrects the Infamous Jason Voorhees in an All-New Haunted House
    13th June 2025

    Halloween Horror Nights Resurrects the Infamous Jason Voorhees in an All-New Haunted House

    Halloween Horror Nights Resurrects the Infamous Jason Voorhees in an All-New Haunted House, “Jason Universe,” Celebrating the Legacy of One of the Most Notorious Killers in Cinematic History, at...

    Read more
    The Maldives Dream is ON! TSN Prize Draw – First Finalists Announced!
    13th June 2025

    The Maldives Dream is ON! TSN Prize Draw – First Finalists Announced!

    Exciting News for the Irish Travel Trade! The moment you've all been waiting for is here! The TSN Maldives Draw has officially begun, and soon one lucky travel agent (and a friend) will be headi...

    Read more
    Tenerife Sales Mission Dublin
    13th June 2025

    Tenerife Sales Mission Dublin

    Our great friend Sara Rivero López (Media Manager) with the Spanish Tourism Office in Dublin brought together a group of Tenerife hotel suppliers on a 2025 sales mission function held in the Mar...

    Read more
    Portugal’s Wild Algarve: Sun, sea and sand – without the crowds
    13th June 2025

    Portugal’s Wild Algarve: Sun, sea and sand – without the crowds

    Travel journalist Deirdre Mullins finds calm, wild beauty, and a slower pace of life on a nature and wellness escape in Sagres and the Vicentine Coast in Portugal. The trail to Praia do Canal be...

    Read more