Airport will breach cap this year – but it is not clear what sanctions it will face
It comes as the DAA conceded on Wednesday that it will this year likely breach the 32-million cap by as much as one million passengers.
Apart from being instructed to adhere to the cap, it’s unclear what sanctions could be imposed on the airport operator by Fingal County Council if it breaches the limit.
The 32-million cap was imposed by An Bord Pleanála when Terminal Two was given permission
DAA chief executive Kenny Jacobs said he understands that An Bord Pleanála could issue a determination on Friday in relation to a so-called relevant action that, if approved, would remove the numerical cap on the average number of flights permitted between 11pm and 7am.
That cap came into effect when Dublin Airport’s new runway opened in 2022.
If An Bord Pleanála sanctions a change, it would see the cap replaced with an annual night-time noise quota, effective between 11.30pm and 6am.
A move to a night-time quota has also been recommended by the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) that operates under Fingal County Council.
Last year, the council issued an enforcement notice against the DAA for breaching its night-time flight quota. That action was stayed pending the outcome of the relevant action.
DAA boss Kenny Jacobs in Terminal One. Photo: Gerry Mooney
Mr Jacobs said he doesn’t know what kind of sanctions could potentially be imposed on the DAA if the enforcement proceedings resumed in relation to the flight quota.
He said that if the noise quota is approved, the planning application to increase the passenger cap on a temporary basis would be made in November – and he’s confident of a quick decision.
“The interim application doesn’t involve us building anything,” he said.
“If we lodge an interim application in November, subject to the relevant action upholding the ANCA recommendation, I would hope that it would be three to six months in which it could go through the planning process.”
The DAA has separately previously applied to raise the Dublin Airport passenger cap to 40 million as part of a wider €2bn-plus infrastructure development planning process. That could take up to three years to be ruled on.
‘It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s much better than being stuck at 32 million’
The 32-million passenger cap at Dublin Airport was imposed as part of the planning granted in 2007 to build Terminal Two. The DAA said the airport will breach the cap despite its efforts to curtail growth to adhere to it.
The airport could have handled 35 million passengers this year if growth hadn’t been throttled, according to Mr Jacobs.
Next year, it could have been a 37-million-passenger airport, he added.
He acknowledged that if the airport’s cap is raised on an interim basis, it will only be sufficient to handle additional growth for about two years.
“It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s much better than being stuck at 32 million when there’s demand out there for 37 million next year,” he added.
Mr Jacobs said that if the DAA is granted permission for its infrastructure development plan, it will – within six months of securing that – apply to have the then 40-million cap raised again.