Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, today (Tues, 9 June) called on the Irish Aviation Authority to follow the example of the Spanish Airport regulator (CNMC), which last week rejected Spain’s airport monopoly operator’s request for an increase in airport charges during the period 2027 to 2031 when it plans to spend €9.5 billion to increase airport capacity in Spain by 45 million passengers p.a. at its 46 airports.

This mirrors similar mad CapEx by the DAA airport monopoly, who propose to waste €5.6 billion at Dublin Airport, while adding no material increase in airport capacity. The DAA are trying to game the regulatory system by understating traffic forecasts, while massively inflating CapEx spending. The DAA’s €5.6 billion plans includes an allowance of €600 million for “inflation” and over €900 million for “contingencies” – just in case the DAA mismanage airport facilities yet again.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“The IAA should follow the example of the Spanish Airport regulator. Ignore the regulatory gaming by the DAA and reduce Dublin airport’s already high fees by 1% or 2% p.a. between 2027 and 2031. When the Dublin airport cap is finally lifted by Micheál Martin’s “dithering” Govt, then Dublin will grow traffic, and this traffic growth at Dublin must lead to lower airport charges as they will in Spain.

We expect airport monopolies like the DAA to game the regulatory system by underestimating traffic growth while squandering billions on facilities which the airlines don’t want or use. Examples of this are putting air bridges on Pier One, where Ryanair accounts for 80% of the traffic but doesn’t need and won’t use air bridges.

We believe the IAA should follow the Spanish example and cut DAA’s high airport fees for the next 5 years. They should ignore the DAA’s mad €5.6bn CapEx plans and its understated traffic growth, which is clearly another effort of regulatory gaming by the DAA monopoly in order to double its already high airport fees at Dublin.”