Ryanair hits out at 'bogus' noise claims and 'nimbys' living near Dublin Airport

Ryanair says the noise in areas such as Ashbourne, Ballyboughal, and St Margaret’s are within 'quiet, moderate, and general safe' ranges. File picture

Ryanair has hit out “nimbys” living near Dublin Airport and said local residents’ claims of excessive noises from flights are “bogus”.

For its opening statement ahead of its appearance at the Oireachtas transport committee on Wednesday, the airline prepared a PowerPoint presentation calling on the Government to scrap its “unlawful” passenger cap.

It said that if the cap is not abolished, then the number of passengers at Dublin Airport must be cut, meaning fewer flights and higher fares, while it would lose new Ryanair routes to the UK and other EU states.

The transport committee is continuing its hearings on the Government’s proposed legislation that would allow the transport minister powers to revoke or amend Dublin Airport’s 32 million passenger cap directly, rather than through the planning system.

The committee has heard from a range of stakeholders, with local residents telling members last week that the legislation offers no plan for those already living near the airport, many of whom have long raised concerns about noise and the health impacts of flight paths.

"I grew up on our family farm, which has been in our family for three generations and pre-dates the opening of Dublin Airport,” said Liam O’Gradaigh from the St Margaret’s The Ward Residents Group. 

“We did not move to the noise; the noise moved to us. There is no getting away from the noise and air pollution.” 

Ryanair, in its submission to the Oireachtas committee, dismisses the local noise claims.

“Dublin Airport opened in Jan 1940 — 86 years ago!!,” it says. “Local nimbys moved in 1998 to 2020.

“Those who move/live near airport can’t block [national] growth.” 

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Ryanair says the noise in areas such as Ashbourne, Ballyboughal, and St Margaret’s are within “quiet, moderate, and general safe” ranges.

The schedule for the committee hearing on Wednesday has Ryanair DAC chief executive Eddie Wilson listed as attending, rather than group CEO Michael O’Leary.

'Historic anachronism'

Aer Lingus, meanwhile, will tell the committee that the existing passenger cap is a “historic anachronism that needs to be urgently removed” and warned that delays could see “significant capacity cuts” next summer.

“If the passenger cap were actually enforced, it would require a reduction of approximately 4.4 million passengers through Dublin Airport — over 12% of the current traffic,” it will state. 

“That would have a catastrophic impact on connectivity, on the airport, and on the wider Irish economy.

“Any delay materially increases the risk of enforced capacity reductions. This risk is particularly acute in respect of summer 2027.” 

'National consequences'

 Airlines for America, which represents the likes of American Airlines, Delta, and United, will sound similar warnings.

“Constraining that connectivity is not a marginal policy choice,” it will tell the committee. 

“It carries national consequences. The loss of 4 million passengers as a result of enforcement of the passenger cap would cost the Irish economy between $4bn-$6bn, according to our estimates, driven by foregone visitor spending in Dublin and wider knock-on effects across the Irish economy.” 

The lobby group will also warn that if market access is “constrained”, then it could trigger “retaliatory measures” from the US government that would “impact both sides of the Atlantic”.

“This is ultimately a choice about Ireland’s position in the global aviation market — and about whether its primary gateway can operate in line with demand and with the agreements it has signed,” it will conclude. “We believe the answer should be yes.”