New law will remove annual passenger cap at Dublin Airport
The Irish government has passed legislation to remove the 32 million annual passenger cap at Dublin Airport, which has been in place since 2007. The new law grants the transport minister authority to lift the restriction, aiming to support the airport's strategic role as an international gateway.
Why it matters
The removal of the cap addresses significant aviation capacity constraints and economic concerns, though it remains a point of contention for environmental and local resident groups.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Emmet McElhatton BBC News NI Getty Images/mikroman6 Planners back in 2007 put a 32 million passenger per year cap on Dublin Airport The Irish president has signed off on a new law to remove a limit to the number of people who can fly from Dublin Airport each year.
Known as the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Act 2026, the legislation will grant the minister for transport powers to lift the 32 million annual passenger restriction.
The passenger cap, introduced in 2007, has been a subject of significant opposition from the aviation sector, and in 2024 was suspended by a High Court ruling .
Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien said the new legislation "recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport as our primary international gateway".
The law was passed in the Dáil Éireann earlier this week and signed off by President Catherine Connolly on Thursday.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in