The Irish Government has taken its first concrete legislative step toward removing the long-criticised annual cap that limits Dublin Airport to 32 million passengers. On 10 February, Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien secured Cabinet approval to draft the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026. The General Scheme of the Bill, published the same day, would empower the Minister to amend or revoke the planning condition that has constrained Ireland’s primary gateway since 2007.
Why is the cap such a flashpoint? DAA, the airport operator, has exceeded the limit for two consecutive years as pent-up post-pandemic demand surged. Airlines argue that the ceiling stifles route growth, forces them to turn traffic away, and ultimately weakens Ireland’s competitiveness as a hub for foreign direct investment. Business lobbies have warned that multinational firms already have to route staff through Heathrow or continental hubs when direct capacity is sold out.
At a practical level, any expansion in flight capacity will also translate into more international arrivals needing the correct travel documentation. VisaHQ’s dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) lets corporate travel teams and individual passengers check entry requirements, obtain electronic authorisations or start full visa applications online in minutes, streamlining trip planning while the regulatory pieces fall into place.
![Government moves to lift 32-million passenger cap at Dublin Airport]()
The draft law proposes a two-track approach: while the Oireachtas fast-tracks the Bill, An Coimisiún Pleanála (Ireland’s re-named planning appeals board) will run the necessary environmental and noise assessments. Only after those studies are complete can the Minister issue an order lifting the cap. In parallel, DAA’s separate planning application for new piers, stands and an integrated transport centre will continue its own path through the planning system.
If the timetable holds, the cap could be lifted before the end of 2026, paving the way for up to 40 million passengers in 2027. For corporate mobility managers this would remove an operational bottleneck that has made securing last-minute seats—especially in premium cabins—frustratingly difficult during peak months. HR teams relocating assignees can also expect more flight options and potentially lower fares on key long-haul markets once airlines receive the green light to grow.
However, the legislation will face scrutiny from local residents’ groups worried about aircraft noise, and from environmental campaigners who say lifting the cap clashes with Ireland’s carbon-reduction targets. Companies should therefore watch the Oireachtas hearings closely: amendments on noise-mitigation or sustainability surcharges could still alter the cost profile of future travel.
Why is the cap such a flashpoint? DAA, the airport operator, has exceeded the limit for two consecutive years as pent-up post-pandemic demand surged. Airlines argue that the ceiling stifles route growth, forces them to turn traffic away, and ultimately weakens Ireland’s competitiveness as a hub for foreign direct investment. Business lobbies have warned that multinational firms already have to route staff through Heathrow or continental hubs when direct capacity is sold out.
At a practical level, any expansion in flight capacity will also translate into more international arrivals needing the correct travel documentation. VisaHQ’s dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) lets corporate travel teams and individual passengers check entry requirements, obtain electronic authorisations or start full visa applications online in minutes, streamlining trip planning while the regulatory pieces fall into place.
The draft law proposes a two-track approach: while the Oireachtas fast-tracks the Bill, An Coimisiún Pleanála (Ireland’s re-named planning appeals board) will run the necessary environmental and noise assessments. Only after those studies are complete can the Minister issue an order lifting the cap. In parallel, DAA’s separate planning application for new piers, stands and an integrated transport centre will continue its own path through the planning system.
If the timetable holds, the cap could be lifted before the end of 2026, paving the way for up to 40 million passengers in 2027. For corporate mobility managers this would remove an operational bottleneck that has made securing last-minute seats—especially in premium cabins—frustratingly difficult during peak months. HR teams relocating assignees can also expect more flight options and potentially lower fares on key long-haul markets once airlines receive the green light to grow.
However, the legislation will face scrutiny from local residents’ groups worried about aircraft noise, and from environmental campaigners who say lifting the cap clashes with Ireland’s carbon-reduction targets. Companies should therefore watch the Oireachtas hearings closely: amendments on noise-mitigation or sustainability surcharges could still alter the cost profile of future travel.
