Junior Minister For Transport Responds To Ryanair Claiming Meeting Was "Not Productive"

Thursday, 12 September 2024 10:42

By Hannah Kelly

Yesterday morning’s meeting revolved around Ryanair’s call for the Government to step in and scrap the 32 million passenger limit at Dublin Airport

The Junior Minister for Transport and Kildare North TD has responded to the head Ryanair’s comments that yesterday’s meeting between the two in relation to the passenger cap at Dublin Airport was “not productive”.

Speaking on this morning’s Kildare Today show, James Lawless stated Michael O’ Leary is free to characterise any meeting whichever way he wishes to, and has said that this is ultimately a legacy problem.

Yesterday morning’s meeting revolved around Ryanair’s call for the Government to step in and scrap the 32 million passenger limit at Dublin Airport.

The passenger cap of 32 million is set to be breached again this year, and is the subject of a planning application from DAA.

The Ryanair CEO says it can't secure slots to fly children to Lapland over the Dublin Airport passenger cap, as well as provide flights for those flying for the likes of rugby matches.

The airline sent a letter on Monday, demanding the Government direct the regulator to assign more flight slots.

Lawless does not see how these services cannot be go from airports such as Cork, Shannon and even local airports such as Weston.

He went on to say that he has spoken with other airports, who are “crying out” for business, and believes services need to be spread around to reduce 86% of Ireland’s air traffic flying out of the one airport.

Lawless also believes the passenger cap limit is a matter for Fingal County Council rather than the Government.

He stated there is no “one size fits all” solution to the Dublin Airport passenger cap, and creative solutions are needed to resolve it.