Michael O’Leary has told the Government to ‘stop agonising over the environment’ and lift Dublin Airport’s passenger cap to boost growth in the economy. 

Earlier today, the British Transport Secretary said she was "minded to approve" the expansion of Gatwick Airport. 

The announcement follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves throwing her support behind a third runway at Heathrow on the grounds it would “make Britain the world's best connected place to do business".

Ryanair has long been vocally in favour of lifting Dublin Airport’s 32 million passenger cap, which it believes has been bad for the Irish economy. 

Speaking on The Hard Shoulder, Mr O’Leary noted that both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael support lifting the cap but that “nothing’s been done” since they were returned to Government. 

“The new Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien can send a letter to the Irish Aviation Authority instructing them to ignore the traffic cap and go for growth,” he said. 

“The previous Transport Minister, who was hopeless, could have issued that letter but, of course, didn’t want to. 

“Darragh O’Brien should issue the letter tomorrow.” 

Ryanair planes parked up at Dublin Airport. Picture by: RollingNews.ie

Mr O’Leary said he was “somewhat surprised” that Minister O’Brien had not already ordered an end to the cap and suggested the Government could alternatively pass legislation to abolish the “stupid” rule. 

“If the Taoiseach says the Government is going to do all it can, well you haven’t done much for the last two months - so, can you please get on with it?” he said. 

“There was a genuine concern over road traffic in 2007 - there’s no concern over road traffic around Dublin Airport now. 

“The planning authorities and even Fingal County Council gave planning permission for a second runway in 2017 with no concern about road traffic. 

“We opened the second runway in 2023 and only now that we’ve got to 32 million passengers, all of a sudden, we can’t grow [the economy].” 

An aerial view of Dublin Airport from the perspective of a Boeing 737. Picture by: Mint Photography / Stockimo / Alamy Stock Photo

According to the IEA, aviation accounts for 2.5% of global emissions - even though most of the world’s population have never set foot on an aeroplane. 

In the last Dáil, Green Party politicians opposed lifting the cap on the grounds it would make it more difficult for Ireland to meet legally binding EU climate targets. 

This is, Mr O’Leary said, not something people should worry about. 

“Every Government across Europe will miss those targets,” he said. 

“I really don’t think we should worry about the targets. 

“The UK Government has signed up to the same targets; they are going to build a runway. 

“Trump is now in the White House; the US has walked away from the Paris Climate Change Agreement - which I wouldn’t necessarily agree with - but let’s not stop growing now, waiting for the perfect in 2050.” 

President Donald Trump. Picture by: AP Photo/Ben Curtis. 

Mr O’Leary added that aeroplanes have become significantly more “fuel efficient” in recent years and that lifting the passenger cap would boost economic growth in Ireland. 

“The biggest employer in the country is the tourism sector,” he said. 

“We’re going to take 330 aircraft over the next 10-years and the only question in my mind is, how many of those aircraft can we put in Dublin? 

“If none, they’ll all go to Europe; the emissions will be exactly the same across Europe… but other countries will benefit from the growth.

“Can we stop agonising over these environmental targets and start delivering growth now?”

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Main image: Michael O'Leary.