The Irish Government took a major step toward removing the long-standing 32 million annual passenger cap at Dublin Airport. The Cabinet approved the drafting of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026, empowering the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, to amend or fully revoke the controversial limit.
Introduced as a planning condition for Terminal 2 in 2007, the cap has restricted growth despite strong demand. Dublin Airport exceeded the limit in recent years, handling around 36 million passengers in 2025, prompting enforcement issues and ongoing European court proceedings.
The decision follows years of lobbying from airport operator daa and airlines like Ryanair, who argue the cap hampers economic competitiveness, tourism, and connectivity. daa welcomed the move as resolving an outdated restriction, supporting its €2 billion infrastructure plans.
While the legislation is expected to pass this year, critics—including some environmental groups—raised concerns about emissions growth. Ryanair called for faster action, urging full removal soon.
This development paves the way for expanded capacity and positions Dublin Airport for future growth.
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