Aer Lingus and Ryanair have initiated legal proceedings against the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) over its decision to limit aircraft capacity at Dublin Airport for the upcoming winter. This challenge follows a similar action taken by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which claimed that the IAA’s decision would breach the airport’s annual passenger cap of 32 million.
The DAA, which was granted permission to bring its challenge earlier, argues that the new ‘Winter 2024 Coordination Parameters’ set by the IAA could lead to violations of planning permissions and potentially EU regulations. They seek to overturn these parameters or reopen the decision to avoid exceeding the passenger limit.
In a bid to protect their interests, Aer Lingus and Ryanair have requested to join the DAA’s legal action. The airlines’ legal teams presented their case to Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who will consider their applications next week. The airlines aim to have their cases managed alongside the DAA’s, with a hearing date already set for the end of the month.
The outcome of these legal challenges could significantly impact Dublin Airport’s operations and the broader aviation sector in Ireland.
