US airlines warned Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien last year that the 32 million annual limit on passengers at Dublin Airport risked breaching international air travel treaties, documents show. O’Brien and the Coalition had by then pledged to remove the controversial passenger limit in the programme for government. Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act show that O’Brien and his officials frequently communicated with A4A about the Dublin cap over the last year. A4A’s April 2025 letter specifically highlighted reports of efforts to direct US airlines to Shannon Airport and away from Dublin. Airlines want the Oireachtas to pass the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 in advance of the summer.

Source: The Irish Times April 05, 2026 21:01 UTC