“Delays in Dublin Airport Development, Threaten Major Airlines”

Dublin: Major airlines are strongly advocating for a favourable decision as Fingal County Council deliberates on the development of Dublin Airport today. Expressing their concerns, major airlines have cautioned in a letter to Fingal County Council about the potential serious ramifications if the proposed development plans are not approved.

Currently, the airport has a capacity of 32 million passengers annually, with plans to increase it to 40 million. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has requested permission to construct extensive new facilities to accommodate this expansion, aiming to raise passenger numbers by 25 percent.

Support for the airport expansion extends beyond the airlines, with industry groups such as IBEC and the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation backing the initiative. Moreover, the National Aviation Policy underscores Dublin’s growth trajectory, although delays in development approvals have persisted, partly due to environmental concerns and opposition from local residents.

Anticipated to be decided upon today, the issue has encountered further delay as the county council’s planning department seeks additional details before reaching a final verdict.

A4A’s Warning 

Airlines for America (A4A), representing major carriers including American Airlines, United, Delta, FedEx, and UPS, have issued a warning, threatening to reduce services operating from Ireland if Dublin Airport’s expansion does not proceed. Several other companies have echoed this sentiment.

Between 2013 and 2023, passenger traffic between the US and Ireland is projected to surge by 76 percent, with a yearly growth rate of 5.8 percent. A4A highlights the significance of meeting this demand, cautioning that failure to do so could lead to multinational companies reconsidering their presence in Ireland, impacting the nation’s economy.

IAG’s Involvement

IAG, the parent company of British Airways, which also owns Aer Lingus, Vueling, and Iberia Express, has urged the council to advance the development plans. However, they haven’t insisted on raising passenger limits. Nonetheless, IAG has warned that if the expansion does not materialise, all its flights will be diverted to alternative airports.

In addition to these major players, numerous other airlines, such as Turkish airline Sun Express, Canadian company Air Transat, Etihad, JetBlue, Egypt Air, WestJet, Aegean Airlines, Hisky, Aurigny, and Emerald Airlines, have expressed support for the airport expansion.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus

Ryanair, with ambitions to increase passenger numbers by 76 percent within a decade, emphasises the necessity of Dublin Airport’s expansion to achieve this goal. They assert that delaying the airport’s development would pose a significant risk to the Irish economy, potentially compelling them to prioritise other destinations and airports.

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