Dublin Airport passenger cap a 'joke', says Willie Walsh

The head of the global airline body IATA said the cap is preventing airlines from expanding into the Irish market

Willie Walsh said the Government will have to intervene if a long-term solution is to be found. Picture: Kevin Coombs

Willie Walsh, the head of the global airline body IATA, has said a passenger cap at Dublin airport has become "a joke" internationally and is preventing airlines from expanding there.

The number of passengers at the airport, which carries around 80% of the country's air passengers, was capped at 32m when planners approved the construction of a second terminal in 2007, in part to avoid local road congestion.

The airport this month warned it was on course to overshoot that by 1m passengers this year, despite having reduced passenger numbers across the year by approximately 650,000.

"It's become a joke outside of Ireland," Mr Walsh said. 

"I speak to international airlines who want to serve the Irish market. 

"For them, Dublin is serving the Irish market and they can't because we have this restriction," he added.

While a planning application has been lodged to lift the cap to 40m, the process is expected to take years, prompting airlines to warn of potential damage to Ireland's economy and call on the Government to take action.

Dubliner Walsh, a former head of Aer Lingus, said the Government will have to intervene if a long-term solution is to be found.

The Government has repeatedly said that it has no powers to intervene in the planning process.

Reuters