Ryanair, Ireland’s largest airline, today (Thurs 12 Feb) called on Micheál “Do Nothing” Martin to urgently pass legislation to scrap the Dublin Airport cap of 32m passengers before St Patricks Day, which has now become urgent as the Advocate General of the European Court today ruled that even an outdated traffic cap, such as the one at Dublin Airport, may still be enforceable. Today’s Advocate General Ruling, which is likely to be followed by the ECJ in Jun or Jul, means that traffic at Dublin Airport, which will be 38m in 2026 must now be cut back to 32m, if the Irish Govt doesn’t take urgent action to scrap this cap. Today’s Ruling also means that Airlines 4 America (A4A) members cannot grow or expand at Dublin Airport because of this outdated 2007 road traffic cap and may in fact lose some of their historic landing rights.

Ryanair fundamentally disagrees with the Advocate General’s Ruling, which creates an appalling vista that air traffic at an airport can now be regulated or constrained because of road infrastructure outside the airport. This is absurd. The road infrastructure around Dublin Airport has been transformed since 2007, yet the stupid 32m cap still remains because of Govt inaction.

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“Micheál “Do Nothing” Martin published a Programme for Govt 14 months ago in Jan 2025, in which he promised his Govt (with a 20-seat majority) would scrap Dublin Airport’s cap “as soon as possible”. 14 months later, as usual, Micheál Martin has done nothing. The Cabinet meeting this week promised it would approve the urgent passing of legislation but as usual with Micheál Martin, there is no date for its implementation. Ryanair calls on Micheál Martin to pass this urgent legislation before he visits the Whitehouse on St Patricks Day. Ireland cannot wait “until the end of the year” for this legislation to be passed, as today’s Advocate General’s Ruling may enable the IAA to reimpose this 32m cap, which would not just stop Dublin Airport growing, but would require the existing airlines to reduce traffic by up to 6m passengers annually to comply with this nonsensical – 2007 – 32m passenger cap.

Since this cap was imposed in 2007, the road infrastructure around Dublin Airport has been transformed, 30% of passengers using Dublin Airport use public transport (buses and taxis), and Dublin Airport has opened a 2^nd runway, which takes passenger capacity up over 50m passengers. It is time that Micheál “Do Nothing” Martin actually did something to urgently abolish this cap rather than talking about doing something, which is his normal modus operandi.  

If the Irish Govt doesn’t urgently abolish this cap, we face the real risk that the American Govt will block Aer Lingus flights landing in New York, and then Micheál Martin will be forced to pass emergency legislation within 24 hours. Ireland should not be embarrassed by the US Administration into delivering its own Programme for Govt. It is time for Micheál “Do Nothing” Martin to actually do something, stop dithering and delaying so that the airlines can continue to grow traffic and tourism at Dublin Airport for the benefit of jobs, our tourism industry and our economy.”