The suspension of the Dublin Airport passenger cap could mean lower prices for people’s summer holidays, a travel expert has predicted. 

The 32 million passenger cap has been suspended for the summer of 2025, allowing airlines to announce extra flights to existing destinations. 

On The Hard Shoulder, The Lonely Planet’s Fionn Davenport said the extra capacity should lash costs for holiday makers. 

“Ryanair are adding increased capacity on 18 existing services to the likes of Faro, Ibiza, Valentia, Malta and Milan should technically mean lower prices,” he said. 

“Because the more seats available, the cheaper they should be. 

“Then you have to factor in demand; so demand goes up, then prices go up accordingly.   

“The one new route that is a direct consequence of the suspension, rather than the lifting of the cap, is a new twice-weekly service to Rabat in Morocco.” 

Dublin Airport. Picture by: Damien Storan/PA © PA Archive/PA Images.

The DAA has lodged a planning application with Fingal County Council, urging councillors to increase the passenger cap to 40 million - a move strongly supported by airlines who use the airport. 

“The cap only exists as a result of An Bord Pleanála’s decision pre-the construction of Terminal 2,” he said. 

“It says, ‘You can build this terminal but you have to cap the number of passengers at 32 million [due to] concern that road infrastructure will get clogged.’ 

“That was 2007, so that was 18-years ago - the roads have all been upgraded since then. 

“So, the cap is redundant really and the hope is it will be adjusted accordingly.” 

Dublin Airport’s new North Runway begins operations. Picture by: PA Archive/PA Images.

Opponents of the increasing the passenger cap have cited the increase in carbon emissions and noise pollution as reasons to retain the status quo. 

In the Programme for Government, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael promised to “work with stakeholders to achieve our objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin airport as soon as possible.”

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Main image: An Aer Lingus plane on the ground at Dublin Airport. Picture by: Alamy.com