Ryanair’s CEO has signed a letter asking the aviation authority to continue providing additional airline slots while the subject is going through the planning process, urging the transport minister to address the passenger cap issue at Dublin Airport before a general election is called, reports RTE.
According to Michael O’Leary, since Eamon Ryan is not running for reelection, doing so would not expose him to any political dangers.
According to Mr. O’Leary, top counsel for Ryanair has advised them that the Minister for Transport is authorised to issue such a directive to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) in accordance with Section 10 of the Aviation Regulation Act of 2001.
“It will resolve the cap, he has the power to send that letter, and that letter would simply tell the IAA to approve extra slots for all the airlines at Dublin Airport,” he said, reports RTE.
The government has stated time and time again that it is not within its legal authority to become involved in the development of the area surrounding Dublin Airport. This includes Minister Ryan.
“It is not interference in the planning process, the daa planning application to Fingal will proceed, but at least don’t hinder growth at Dublin Airport, hinder growth in tourism and growth in jobs, while that planning process continues,” he said, reports RTE.
He said it was evident today that the issue will wind up in the courts in the Spring of next year and one of the important components of that, he continued, will be that the minister has this ability.
“The sad thing is he won’t exercise that power,” he stated, reports RTE.
According to Mr. O’Leary, of the 220,000 more seats Ryanair planned to add in order to transport passengers home via Dublin for Christmas, 50,000 will now travel to Belfast, and the remaining tickets won’t be available at all due to the restriction.
He continued by saying that the cost of flights for Christmas had already increased by 30% from this time last year.
According to Mr. O’Leary, the airport operator, daa, and the IAA both want to keep approving new slots, reports RTE.
He stated that although Ryanair’s traffic in Ireland has only increased by 1% so far this year, the majority of that growth has come via Shannon and Cork, where Ryanair had to take steps to increase the number of passengers.
The airline CEO restated his belief that, in contrast to what certain government members claim, the majority of travellers visiting Ireland prefer not to land at a small airport, reports RTE.
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