May 7, 2024 Back to all news

daa welcomes the Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) decision to establish a seat cap parameter for airlines granted slots to fly into Dublin Airport during the winter 2024 season as part of efforts to comply with the 32 million terminal passenger cap imposed on the airport. 

However, daa believes there continues to be a significant risk that passenger numbers in 2024 will exceed the 32 million cap as additional measures daa proposed have not been accepted by the regulator in its final decision. 

Commenting, daa CEO Kenny Jacobs said: “Dublin Airport is caught between a rock and a hard place. We want to continue to connect Ireland with the world, but we are also trying to comply with planning condition, even if the condition is less relevant then when decided almost 20 years ago. Pending the approval of our application to increase our passenger numbers to 40 million a year, we are making every effort to restrict growth to stay within the cap. The IAA has an important role in supporting this as it controls how many slots are allocated to airlines every year. At this stage, more action is necessary and we will work with the IAA and airlines so that any reductions are well managed.”

Further Background on the Cap and IAA role:

 •             In December 2023, daa applied to Fingal County Council to increase the current terminal passenger cap of 32 million passengers per annum to 40 million.  

•             This was part of a broader Infrastructure Application (IA) which seeks permission for a range of significant investments to facilitate the projected growth of passengers through Dublin Airport. 

•             Pending approval of the IA, Dublin Airport’s terminals will remain capped at 32 million passengers per annum. This will impact Ireland’s ability to create jobs and its economic growth.

•             daa is doing everything it can to comply with the planning cap pending the outcome of the IA. daa has taken away significant growth incentives for airlines, brought proposals to reduce ad hoc (unscheduled) movements (flights), and asked some charter carriers to fly to other airports instead. 

•             However, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has a critical role to play in facilitating daa’s compliance with the cap as it determines the number of aircraft that can be scheduled to use the runways at Dublin Airport. 

•             Under the Slot Regulation (EEC Regulation 95/93) as amended, the IAA as competent authority must set the parameters for slot allocation at Dublin Airport twice a year.  

•             daa will continue to work with our airline customers, the IAA’s slot co-ordination process and the IAA with the aim of compliance with the cap.