Dublin Airport is aiming to submit a second planning application to raise the passenger cap to 50 million per year, the DAA has said.

Currently, the airport has an annual capacity cap of 32 million but it expects to breach it this year by around one million.

Yesterday, the High Court put a stay on an Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) ruling that would have significantly cut the number of flights next summer in a bid to comply with the cap.

Although the DAA welcomed the decision, CEO Kenny Jacobs said more needs to be done to secure long-term growth at the airport. 

“Based on current projections, there could be airline demand out there for us to reach 40 million probably in the next three to four-years,” he told The Pat Kenny Show. 

“Once we get the 40 million one approved, we will be into Fingal [County Council] quite soon after with another application talking about a master plan of Dublin Airport with 50 million passengers.

“Ireland needs to get better at longer-term planning; we in the DAA want to get better at longer-term planning. 

“So, we won’t be leaving it late; we’ll be going to Fingal with another application that futureproofs the growth of Dublin Airport.”

Passengers wait to board a 'redeye' early morning flight at Dublin Airport in May 2010. Picture by: Peter Titmuss / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Jacobs described the legal wrangling over the passenger cap as a “saga” that had gone on for far too long - but predicted the High Court’s ruling was not the final time the issue would end up in court. 

“It’s not the endgame, it’s a solution for a period of time that brings some relief,” he said. 

“This is a 17-year saga that’s been going on for too long. 

“Ultimately, I think it’s going to be the European Court of Justice that will determine that an international treaty and EU regulation takes precedence potentially over domestic planning.

“Or it’s going to be us ultimately getting planning approval from Fingal County Council.”

Economic growth

Mr Jacobs said the DAA is keen to grow Dublin Airport and any future increase in the number of flights will benefit Ireland’s economy. 

“We can comfortably manage 36 million in Dublin Airport and there’s airline demand out there,” he said. 

“All of that means jobs; all of that means good connectivity.

"As we’ve said throughout this saga, we are an island nation - we do need this connectivity; it’s good for business, it’s good for tourism and we need it.” 

Environmentalists have raised concerns that any expansion of Dublin Airport will increase carbon emissions and make it more difficult for Ireland to hit its climate targets. 

According to Our World in Data, aviation accounts for 2.5% of the planet’s carbon emissions - despite the fact only 10% of the world’s population fly in a typical year.

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Main image: Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport.  Picture by: Alamy.com