New Proposal to Raise Passenger Cap at Dublin Airport Submitted

Dublin Airport could soon see a significant increase in its passenger capacity, with planners expected to approve a proposal that would raise the annual limit from 32 million to 40 million.

Kenny Jacobs, the Chief Executive of Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), shared this optimistic outlook following inquiries made by Fingal County Council about the proposed expansion. Mr Jacobs believes that the council is likely to grant approval within the first quarter of next year, citing support from Fingal’s development plan for the increased capacity.

However, Mr Jacobs also expressed concerns over potential challenges to any decision made, which could complicate the timeline for final approval. He emphasised the need for clearer planning timelines in Ireland, criticising the existing system as “too open-ended.” This development comes as Dublin Airport continues to play a crucial role in accommodating the growing number of travellers in the region.

Mr Jacobs also confirmed that the DAA is likely to lodge a second application seeking to have the cap raised to 36 million within the next eight weeks. This focuses only on the cap and does not involve seeking permission to build anything. The earlier application for an increase to 40 million is part of an overall proposal to expand the airport’s facilities.

On Wednesday, Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) reported a significant increase in passenger traffic, with nearly 2.3 million travellers passing through its terminal in December. This figure includes 81,000 passengers who transferred between flights, marking a 3 percent rise compared to the same month last year.

Mr. Jacobs, a spokesperson for DAA, projected that the airport is set to accommodate approximately 33 million passengers in 2024. However, he cautioned that the total could have reached 33.75 million if DAA had not taken steps to manage the growing demand from airlines. These measures included the discontinuation of incentives for carriers operating at Dublin Airport, aimed at ensuring smoother operations amid rising passenger numbers.

Mr Jacobs has predicted that the total number of passengers travelling through Dublin Airport next year would rise to a whopping 35 million if the cap increase was approved.