Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the challenge which the cap on flights poses to charters to attend major sporting events over the coming months, both home and away; if measures can be taken to protect this traditional traffic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42503/24]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, increasing capacity at Dublin Airport is in line with the National Aviation Policy (“NAP”) which recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport to meeting national social and economic policy goals. The NAP includes an objective to develop Dublin Airport as a secondary hub airport. It is important to stress that the passenger cap at Dublin Airport is a planning issue, rather than an issue of policy.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has the responsibility for allocating slots to airlines at Dublin Airport under EU law. In taking into account the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, the IAA has set a passenger seat limit at the airport for the Winter 24 season and for the Summer 25 season.

This means that the availability of slots for ad hoc flights which can include charter flights for events including sporting events will be limited until such time that the passenger cap is lifted at the airport through the planning process. While additional slots may become available closer to the time at Dublin Airport, there is no guarantee that they will.

In light of the current constraints at Dublin I am currently undertaking a series of engagements with key stakeholders (airlines, airports, regulators, business groups) to discuss ways in which the impact of the constraint of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport may be limited while planning permission is awaited.

My objective is to ensure that connectivity to and from Ireland can continue to grow and that the impact of the constraints at Dublin Airport can be mitigated where possible. While the impact of the current constraint in terms of future growth at Dublin Airport is recognised, it is important to note that there are no capacity constraints at Ireland’s other State Airports, Shannon and Cork and those organising charter flights are encouraged to explore these options as an alternative to Dublin Airport while capacity at Dublin is constrained.