Dublin Airport will maintain its number of available passenger seats for the upcoming summer season after the High Court granted a stay on an Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) decision to limit take-off and landing slots. This ruling comes as a relief to major airlines, including Ryanair and Aer Lingus, which had raised concerns about significant financial losses due to the proposed caps.
The IAA’s ruling, issued last month, aimed to restrict the number of seats available on aircraft during the busy summer months to 25.2 million—approximately one million fewer than the capacity available this past summer. This measure was intended to ensure that Dublin Airport adheres to its long-standing cap of 32 million annual passengers, a limit imposed as a condition for the construction of the airport’s second terminal in 2007.
In their legal challenge, Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and Airlines For America (A4A)—which represents several US carriers—sought to pause the IAA’s decision while they pursue judicial review proceedings. The High Court has already allowed the airlines to challenge the summer slot decision, although a hearing on this matter has not yet taken place.
At a recent hearing, Aer Lingus warned that the restrictions could result in a loss of 362,000 seats and €84 million in revenue next year, potentially increasing to €130 million in the following year. Ryanair further testified that maintaining the slot cap would lead to the loss of 550,000 passenger seats and €50 million annually, complicating its operational logistics both to and from Dublin.
A4A expressed concerns that the limitations would not only impact profitability but also damage the reputations of its members, arguing that the IAA’s decision constituted a breach of the EU-US Open Skies Agreement.
Meanwhile, daa (Dublin Airport Authority), which supports the IAA’s seat cap, argued that granting a stay would violate binding planning conditions. However, Justice O’Donnell ruled in favor of the airlines, stating that they would suffer irreparable harm if the stay was not granted. He emphasized that the balance of justice favored a stay, despite the concerns regarding planning laws.
The stay will remain in effect pending further orders from the court or until the judicial review is resolved. This decision comes just days before Airports Coordination Ltd is scheduled to finalize summer slot allocations, providing critical clarity for airlines and travelers.
In his written ruling, Justice O’Donnell noted that the potential breach of planning conditions does not outweigh the serious adverse consequences of failing to grant the stay, which could disrupt public travel and adversely affect the broader economy. He concluded that the risk of significant injustice necessitated the stay’s issuance, ensuring that Dublin Airport’s summer capacity remains intact.
