US airlines submit complaint about Dublin Airport passenger cap
Kenneth Fox
Airlines for America has submitted a complaint to the US Department of Transport highlighting that Ireland is in breach of its legal obligations as a result of Dublin Airport’s illegal traffic cap.
They said it has the potential to force some US airlines to lose their existing slot rights, while also preventing other US airlines from growing their routes and traffic to Dublin, due to this illegal traffic cap, even though Dublin Airport has opened a 2nd runway and has capacity for up to 60m pax p.a.
The action follows a similar, successful legal action last year by Ryanair, Aer Lingus, and others, which secured a stay against the damaging impact of Dublin Airport’s illegal cap and its referral to the European Court of Justice.
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary said the continued failure by Micheál Martin to deliver on his Government promises has now become an international embarrassment for Ireland before both the European Courts and the US Administration as well.
Speaking about the news, O'Leary said: “While the US Airlines have now initiated legal proceedings against Ireland in the US, our Taoiseach continues his worldwide tour, with this week's four day stop-off in China, where he will waste the entire week talking about international issues, on which he has no impact, while his Govt – despite a 20-seat majority – delivers nothing here at home.
"Micheál Martin, who spends more time on worldwide tours than Elton John, prefers hobnobbing with world leaders rather than delivering his Government Program here at home.
"What exactly does Micheál Martin mean when his Government Programme promised to scrap the Dublin Airport cap "as soon as possible"? Is it one week, one month, one year, or whenever his worldwide tour to Brazil, South Africa, Angola, and now China finally comes to an end?
"This is Taoiseach leading a Government, where overseas travel and photo ops take priority over delivering on their promises at home.
"Ireland now faces censure in the EU Courts over this illegal airport traffic cap, and now runs the real risk that the US Department of Transport will block Aer Lingus flights landing in the US, solely because Micheál Martin – with a 20 seat majority – has failed for 13 months to do anything to deliver his Govt promise to scrap this illegal cap "as soon as possible".
