Dublin Airport passenger charges look set to fall, following a recommendation from the aviation regulator.
The 2019 price cap per passenger is €8.81, but the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) believes that should be decreased to a maximum of €7.50 (a 15% decrease) for the next five years.
According to the commission, the change would be in the best interests of passengers while still allowing airport authorities to provide a quality service.
It comes amid plans to increase the annual number of passengers using the airport from last year's 31.5 million passengers.
The CAR proposal is not final, and the regulator is inviting submissions on their recommendation before its final determination.
The commission says it expects "that the proposed price will change" during the process.
CAR commissioner Cathy Mannion explained: "The reduction in price will benefit passengers, through lower air fares, but also by encouraging continued growth at the airport, offering passengers increased choice and connectivity.
"The proposal also has more long-term consequences. It allows Dublin Airport to deliver key pieces of national infrastructure, which will facilitate a significant increase in the capacity of the airport."
However, airport officials have claimed the regulator's plan is unjustified, and could jeopardise investments in new facilities.
Paul O'Kane from Dublin Airport argued that lowering the current fee would be fundamentally flawed, noting that they're planning a €1.8 billion investment at the airport.
He said: "[We're looking at] building new aircraft parking stands, new boarding gates and all of the things that our passengers want and that the economy needs.
"We would have done that and kept airport charges flat for the next five years. Our charges are already 30-40% cheaper than our peers."
CAR says it forecasts a "more constrained level of growth" in operating costs than the estimates being put forward by airport authorities.
