Irish Cabinet set to lift Dublin Airport passenger cap to boost growth

The Irish Cabinet is taking action. They will meet on Tuesday. They plan to lift a limit. This limit is at Dublin Airport.

Currently, the airport has a cap. It can only take 32 million people. This rule is many years old. It started back in 2007.

Minister Jack Chambers will present a memo. He is the Minister for Infrastructure. He wants to change the rules. This will help the airport grow.

A New Target for 2026

The goal is 40 million passengers. The government wants this by 2026. This is a big increase. It helps the whole country.

The cap has caused many problems. Airlines cannot add new flights. They have to move planes elsewhere. This hurts Irish tourism and business.

Ryanair has asked for this change. They want to grow in Dublin. Other airlines feel the same way.

Streamlining the Approval Process

The new rules will be different. The government will call this "critical infrastructure." This makes the approval process faster. It stops long delays in planning.

Dublin Airport is a major hub. It connects Ireland to the world. Without growth, Ireland loses money.

Industry experts support this move. They say the cap is outdated. Modern planes are much quieter now. This reduces the impact on neighbors.

Impact on Global Connectivity

According to IATA, air travel is rising. Europe needs better airport capacity. Ireland is following this trend.

There are still some hurdles ahead. Local groups may still complain. They worry about traffic and noise. The government must address these issues.

But the economic benefits are huge. More flights mean more global trade. It also means lower ticket prices. Competition thrives when airports can grow.

This decision is a major milestone. It ends years of planning battles. The aviation industry is watching closely.

By 2026, the airport will look different. It will handle millions more travelers. This secures Ireland's place in aviation.

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