Dublin Airport is considering submitting a second planning application to increase the passenger cap to 50 million per year, the DAA said.

Currently, the airport has one but it hopes to pass it this year by .

Yesterday the High Court suspended a decision by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) which allegedly attempted to comply with the cap.

Although the DAA welcomed the decision, CEO Kenny Jacobs said more needed to be done to ensure the airport’s long-term growth.

“Based on current projections, airline demand could reach 40 million probably in the next three to four years,” he said. The Pat Kenny Show.

“Once we approve the 40 million one, we’ll find ourselves in Fingal (county council) quite soon after with another application talking about a Dublin Airport masterplan with 50 million passengers.

“Ireland needs to improve its long-term planning; In the DAA, we want to improve long-term planning.

“Then we won’t leave late; we will travel to Fingal with another application that sustains the growth of Dublin Airport.

Passengers wait to board an early morning ‘red-eye’ flight at Dublin Airport in May 2010. Photo by: Peter Titmuss / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Jacobs described the legal wrangling over the passenger cap as a “saga” that had gone on for far too long – but predicted the High Court ruling was not the last time the case would end up in court .

“It’s not the end game, it’s a solution for a period of time that provides some relief,” he said.

“This is a 17-year saga that has gone on for too long.

“Ultimately, I think it will be the European Court of Justice that determines that an international treaty and European regulation potentially takes precedence over national planning.

“Or it will be us who finally get planning approval from Fingal County Council.”

Economic growth

Mr Jacobs said the DAA wanted to develop Dublin Airport and any future increases in the number of flights benefit the Irish economy.

“We can comfortably handle $36 million at Dublin Airport and there is demand from airlines,” he said.

“All of this means jobs; all this means good connectivity.

“As we have said throughout this saga, we are an island nation – wWe need this connectivity; it’s good for business, it’s good for tourism and we need it.

Environmentalists have expressed concerns that any expansion of Dublin Airport increase carbon emissions and make it more difficult for Ireland to meet its climate targets.

According to Our World in Data, aviation represents 2.5% of global carbon emissions – despite the fact only 10% of the world’s population flies in a typical year.

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Main image: Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport. Photo by: Alamy.com