Daa labels Limerick Chamber 'misguided' over remarks on airport passenger caps

Business group claims retaining the cap on passenger numbers for Dublin Airport at 32 million would result in more flights moving to regional airports

Limerick Chamber has said existing capacity at other regional airports should be utilised in advance of increasing Dublin Airport's capacity limit. 

Dublin Airport operator Daa has called Limerick Chamber “misguided” for suggesting limiting its passenger capacity at Dublin Airport would result in more flights moving to regional airports.

The business group recently wrote to Fingal County Council laying out a number of observations around Daa's latest planning application, which would allow it to increase Dublin Airport’s capacity from 32 million passengers a year to 40 million.

In the letter, Limerick Chamber said it was concerned aspects of the planning were “premature”, given the need to review national aviation policy due to the current policy “pre-dating and not being aligned with the goals of Project Ireland 2040”.

The letter highlighted what the chamber called a “stark imbalance” in the aviation industry in Ireland, which sees Dublin Airport attract the vast majority of passengers into and out of the country at the expense of regional airports.

The chamber said research it had conducted showed a “significant underutilised capacity” of other regional airports which, if used appropriately, would allow for “decreased pressure on the assets of Dublin Airport and on State infrastructure surrounding Dublin Airport”.

The chamber also said it believed it was “prudent” to ensure that “existing capacity at other State airports are fully utilised in advance of permitting an increase in passenger numbers at Dublin Airport”.

The State should support under-utilised State-owned airports to grow and fully achieve their potential ahead of increasing passenger numbers at Dublin Airport.

The group said investment schemes were critical for regional airports such as Shannon and Cork to grow and it was “highly unlikely” one single airport such as Dublin would be able to “grow indefinitely”.

It added it would be better to strategically plan to look at the State system as a whole to identify other efficiencies which “may yield a more optimal outcome”.

In response to the letter, Daa said it was of the view all airports should grow as the population does and it would continue to invest in Cork Airport. 

“The Limerick Chamber is misguided in thinking that a cap on Dublin will mean capacity moves to other regional airports. There is nothing to stop any airline operating from regional airports at present,” Daa said.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

“Airlines make commercial decisions to operate out of any Irish airport based on proven demand for the flights. We would encourage the Chamber of Commerce to think nationally and support vital connectivity for businesses at all our airports.” 

In 2023, close to 32 million passengers passed through the terminals at Dublin Airport, while Cork Airport saw just 2.8 million passengers, which was its busiest year for international travel in its history.