Dublin Airport will breach its 32 million passenger cap, warns Daa

The daa has applied to Fingal County Council (FCC) to increase the current terminals passenger cap to 40 million

The cap was put in place in 2007 as part of the planning permission granted for the second terminal at Dublin Airport. File photo

Dublin Airport operator Daa warned that the contentious 32 million passenger cap will be exceeded this year.

The Daa has applied to Fingal County Council (FCC) to increase the current terminals passenger cap of 32 million passengers a year to 40 million as part of a broader Infrastructure Application (IA).

Kenny Jacobs, Daa chief executive, said “growth at Dublin Airport is now being stalled by an outdated passenger cap, a very lengthy planning process and a lack of joined-up thinking on critical infrastructure in Ireland.” 

“This leaves Dublin Airport caught between a rock and a hard place. We want to grow so we can continue to connect Ireland with the world and support foreign direct investment, tourism and jobs. But while we wait for planning to be granted, we are doing everything we can to comply with existing planning conditions,” he said.

The cap was put in place in 2007 as part of the planning permission granted for the second terminal at Dublin Airport.

The Daa said that between May and August, over 10 million passengers passed through the doors of Dublin Airport, bringing the total number to 22.7 million passengers so far in 2024.

As of the end of August, Dublin Airport passenger numbers are trending 5.5% ahead of 2023, and this trend is forecast to continue into September, according to the Daa.

The Daa, which also operates Cork Airport, noted that around 340,705 passengers passed through the airport in August, representing a 10% increase on the previous year.

Passenger numbers are set to reduce from late autumn as a result of the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) winter slot decision. This cuts the number of seats airlines flying into Dublin Airport can offer to passengers between November and March.

Meanwhile, some airlines operating at Dublin have also decided to reduce the scale of their operations because of the uncertainty with the 32 million terminals passenger cap.