There are fears Dublin Airport could breach its cap of 32 million annual passengers this year – but the issue is “highly unlikely” to impact on the Christmas holiday season.

Airport operator DAA has opened talks with airlines over the number of passengers transiting through the facility, with many aviation experts concerned the cap could be breached by Christmas.

The annual 32 million passenger cap was imposed by An Bord Pleanála when it approved the airport's second terminal.

Under the exception, DAA must submit a planning proposal for more infrastructure if the cap is breached.

On The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Air and Travel Editor Eoghan Corry said some people have interpreted that as DAA needing to apply for a third terminal – but it is more likely to look at extending the facilities that are already there.

“That figure of 32 million is important,” he said. “We almost hit it pre-pandemic in 2019, it went away for a couple of years and now it’s back.

“Dublin Airport are really working out, how are we going to cope if we have to deal with a cap of 32 million with all the route frequencies increasing and the extra flights that we expect to happen as the economy grows.”

PC8KXB Dublin Airport Terminal One, Dublin, Ireland, Europe

Mr Corry said it is “highly unlikely” the situation will impact on people’s Christmas holiday plans, even if the cap is breached before the end of the year.

“I don't think we'll have a crisis looming up in eight, nine, ten weeks,” he said.

“Certainly, when we're planning for summer of 2024, which could be quite busy, that's when DAA really need to have the T's crossed and the I’s dotted.”

Passengers in Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport. Picture by: Sheila Naughton/Newstalk

Mr Corry said DAA is due to apply for a range of extensions to its current facilities – including the North and South Apron, US Pre-clearance, the security facilities, new roads and the controversial new parking charge system.

In a statement, DAA said it is “adopting a prudent, proactive approach to managing passenger capacity” this year and next.

It said securing planning permission to grow Dublin Airport will be “central to Dublin Airport's ability to meet the demands of passengers and our airline partners in the years ahead”.

When the cap was ‘breached’ in 2019, DAA argued that the actual number of passengers passing through the airport was smaller because just over two million are transit passengers who are counted twice – once when arriving and once when departing.

DAA says it will be making the same argument this year.

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