Ryanair has called for the immediate resignation of Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin, accusing them of failing to act as the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) reduces Dublin Airport’s traffic by over one million seats for summer 2025. Ryanair claims that the two ministers have «failed» in their responsibilities to the transport and tourism sectors.
According to Ryanair, the IAA’s decision to reduce traffic at Dublin Airport could have been avoided if the Transport Minister had issued a «Direction Letter» to the IAA approving all airline slot requests for the winter 2024 and summer 2025 periods. The airline argues that this cutback is unnecessary while the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA)‘s planning application to remove the 2007 road traffic restriction is still under consideration.
Ryanair highlights that both Fingal County Council, An Bord Pleanála, and the IAA ignored the 2007 capacity restriction when, in 2015, they approved the construction of Dublin Airport’s second runway, which increased the airport’s capacity to 60 million passengers annually.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary criticized the IAA’s decision, calling it «unlawful.» He stated, «The Dublin Airport cap is in breach of the EU right to freedom of movement, and also violates the EU/US Open Skies Agreement. We are certain that this absurd 17-year-old restriction, which was solely designed to address road traffic concerns that no longer exist, will be overturned by the European Courts.»
O’Leary added that if the Transport Minister had any «backbone,» he would issue a letter under Section 10 of the Aviation Act instructing the IAA to approve additional slot requests at Dublin Airport. He further criticized both Ryan and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin, claiming that «neither of them is willing to sign and send a simple letter» to resolve the issue.
Ryanair has instructed its legal team to seek an injunction in both the Irish High Court and European Courts to stop what it describes as «self-inflicted harm» on Irish aviation and tourism, caused by «two incompetent Green ministers.»
The airline stressed that the ministers have overseen the opening of a second runway at Dublin Airport but are now allowing Irish connectivity and tourism to suffer a reduction of one million passengers in summer 2025 due to their inaction.
