DUBLIN — May 17, 2024 — Dublin Airport experienced a robust resurgence of passenger numbers in April, climbing 7.5% to 2.9 million. This growth was fueled by the Easter holiday, the introduction of new flight routes, and the absence of winter flight slot restrictions. In this article, we explore the reasons behind the airport’s triumphant passenger figures, and the main topic is the passenger cap.
Dublin Airport Soars in April, Navigating Passenger Cap Turbulence
Dublin Airport experienced a significant surge in passenger traffic during April, according to airport operator daa. The airport saw a 7.5% increase, reaching 2.9 million passengers. This growth marks a notable rebound after three months of stagnation earlier in 2025.
Did you know?
Dublin Airport is a major hub for transatlantic flights, connecting North America with Europe. Its strategic location makes it a key gateway for international travelers.
Several factors contributed to this upswing, including the timing of Easter, which fell in April this year compared to March in the previous year. Additionally, the winter restrictions on flight slots were not extended into the summer period, further boosting capacity.
Legal Landscape and Passenger Cap
A legal challenge by airlines has intricate the operational environment. The High Court has suspended enforcement of the passenger slot limit, pending a referral to European authorities. This effectively prevents the regulator from considering the cap when allocating slots to airlines.
Driving Forces Behind the Growth
Beyond the calendar shift and regulatory factors, several elements fueled the April increase:
- New Routes: The introduction of new flight routes attracted additional passengers.
- Tourism: School holidays brought an influx of tourists to Ireland.
- Business Travel: Strong business travel levels contributed to the overall rise in passenger numbers.
Executive Outlook
Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, commented on the airport’s performance, stating: April was a strong month at Dublin airport both in terms of passenger numbers and also operational performance.
He also highlighted the impact of the passenger cap,adding,Cork Airport is a star performer amongst Irish regional airports and Dublin airport would be too amongst its peer European airports if it wasn’t for the uncertainty of the passenger cap.
Pro Tip
Planning your trip during off-peak seasons can often result in lower fares and fewer crowds at the airport. Consider traveling in the shoulder months (April-May or September-october) for a more relaxed experience.
Jacobs attributed the positive results to the Easter holiday and the addition of new routes, such as Cork-Bilbao and Dublin-Nashville. He also expressed gratitude to the airport teams for ensuring smooth operations.
Dublin Airport’s Potential and Constraints
Jacobs emphasized the pent-up demand for air travel to and from Dublin Airport, noting: April was the first month of 2025 in which passenger numbers at Dublin Airport were not artificially constrained given there was a limit on the number of slots that airlines could access over the winter period due to the passenger cap. The 7.8% growth in April shows the high level of pent-up demand that’s out there – both from passengers and airlines – to fly in and out of Dublin Airport.
He also criticized the passenger cap, arguing that it hinders Ireland’s growth and makes it an outlier in europe. the passenger cap is holding Ireland back and making it an outlier amongst other European countries, with figures released this week by Airports Council International showing that passenger traffic in Ireland declined by -0.5% in Q1 2025, while airports in Europe combined saw passenger traffic increase by an average of 4%. This makes no sense when you consider that Ireland is an island nation with a fast-growing population which does – and always will – require good air connectivity. Add in the fact that we’re speaking to airlines every week that want to bring new routes and additional frequencies to Dublin Airport and Ireland finds itself in a farcical situation that is leaving the rest of the world scratching its head.
Jacobs further elaborated on the need for faster planning processes: With the cap at Dublin Airport having been referred to Europe, and with airlines consequently being able to keep filing for slots, the passenger cap is effectively now a zombie cap and the bigger issue for Ireland is that conversations need to switch to how planning in Ireland can go faster. While some stakeholders insist on putting up barriers as opposed to solutions and hiding behind no-longer-fit-for-purpose processes, all minds now need to focus on identifying answers that will eradicate the zombie passenger cap once and for all and most importantly speed up planning.Dublin Airport is on track to handle more than 36 million passengers in 2025 and it has the capacity to comfortably do so. But the clock is ticking on how long Dublin Airport will be able to accommodate the growth opportunities that are coming Ireland’s way without the addition of the new departure gates, aircraft stands and passenger infrastructure it will need in the near future.
