Lapland Santa visits could be hit by Dublin Airport passenger cap, claims Aer Lingus

Airline considers legal action after aviation body imposes limit

Flights to visit Santa in Lapland and skiing trips could be among the seasonal holidays hit next winter due to the cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport, Aer Lingus chief executive Lynne Embleton has said.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) announced this week that it is imposing a cap of 14.4 million seats at Dublin Airport for the coming winter season, which runs from October to March. It is the first time such a cap has been imposed by the authority.

Ms Embleton said the winter seat cap could affect the travelling public, especially for so-called ad-hoc flights.

“These are things like flights to Lapland taking kids to see Santa, ski charters and sporting events, both taking fans to sporting events, but also the teams themselves,” she said.

“This is an unnecessary impact on the economy and on the Irish public and it’s time that we had action.”

She said the airline is considering legal action against the IAA’s decision. Ryanair has also said it would consider its legal position.

“While there’s been a decision by the IAA on the winter capacity, that sets a precedent for what may happen next summer,” Ms Embleton said.

“We have growth we want to do for 2025. Then the seriousness of this issue and the magnitude of the impact manifests itself as we get into next year.”

Dublin Airport, operated by DAA, is subject to an overall annual limit on passenger numbers, which caps it at 32 million. That is due to a planning condition attached nearly 20 years ago to the construction of Terminal 2.

DAA is trying to raise that cap to 40 million by way of a planning application for a wider infrastructure development plan.

Ms Embleton said the passenger cap is one of the “most significant issues” the airline is facing.

“It hasn’t been well managed,” she said, as Aer Lingus parent IAG issued first-quarter results.

“DAA should have acted a lot sooner.

It should have made an interim planning application by now.

“Importantly, there now needs to be urgent action to resolve this overall planning cap.

“I’d like to see more leadership from the Government now on this topic. There needs to be proper action taken on this issue.

“I believe that government intervention is required. The form of that intervention, I don’t think I’m best placed to describe.

“But I don’t think we can have a situation now where national infrastructure and the interest of the economy and the travelling public are seriously harmed.”

DAA’s infrastructure planning application that includes a push to raise the annual cap to 40 million passengers could take years to be decided.

DAA, headed by CEO Kenny Jacobs, has said it would consider an interim planning application for a smaller increase in passenger numbers if such a decision could be processed quickly.

Aer Lingus is also in the process of trying to reach an agreement on pay with its pilots. The Labour Court is currently considering submissions from the airline and the pilot union on the issue before issuing a recommendation.