Dublin Airport on course to breach passenger cap

Numbers flying in during the start of the year up nearly 7%

Under its planning permission, Dublin Airport is limited to 32m passengers a year. 

The number of passengers flying into Dublin Airport during the start of the year is up nearly 7%, putting the airport at risk of breaching its passenger limit should the trend continue, new data from the CSO shows. 

Under Dublin Airport’s planning permission, it is limited to managing 32m passengers a year. 

During 2023, it came really close to breaching that limit, with a final reported tally of 31.9m passengers passing through the terminal.

In December, Dublin Airport operator Daa submitted an application to Fingal County Council seeking to increase the passenger cap, with the approval process still ongoing.

The application seeks to raise the passenger cap at the airport to 40m a year with Daa saying the demand is already there for more than 34m passengers a year.

According to the CSO, during the first three months of the year 8.2m passengers passed through the five main Irish airports — an increase of 8%, or more than 600,000 passengers, compared to the same time in 2023.

The number of passengers arriving into and departing Dublin Airport in particular increased by approximately 435,000 compared to the same period in 2023. 

Cork Airport, which is also managed by Daa, saw 100,000 more passengers pass through the terminal year-on-year.

If passenger numbers through Dublin Airport continue at this rate, the airport is at risk of breaching its passenger limit for this year.

In a statement, Daa said it is doing “everything it can” to ensure that the 32m terminals cap “is adhered to... including the phased removal of growth schemes and incentives to airlines to fly in and out of Dublin Airport. 

"In light of that, we welcome the Irish Aviation Authority's recent decision to establish a seat cap parameter for airlines granted slots to fly into Dublin Airport during the winter 2024 season. 

"Complying with the cap will require further action and Daa will continue to work with the Irish Aviation Authority and airlines to ensure any reductions are well managed."