Ireland’s main international gateway has been given the green light to grow again. On 17 July 2026, President Catherine Connolly signed the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Act 2026, empowering the Minister for Transport to remove the long-criticised 32 million-passenger annual ceiling at Dublin Airport. The new law tasks An Coimisiún Pleanála with conducting accelerated environmental assessments before an order can be made to amend or scrap the cap. Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has already directed officials to begin those assessments immediately, pledging to have a formal order in place “as soon as possible”. Business groups and airlines have lobbied for years to lift the restriction, arguing that capacity constraints were pushing traffic—and investment—towards rival hubs such as London and Amsterdam. Airport operator DAA says the change will unlock stalled infrastructure plans, including two new piers, additional aircraft stands and a remote apron that together could boost capacity to 45 million passengers by 2030. The Act also provides statutory backing for noise-mitigation measures and community funds designed to address residents’ concerns, a key factor in Fingal County Council’s ongoing planning review. For global mobility managers, the removal of the cap promises more flight options, competitive fares and greater scheduling flexibility for assignees and business travellers using Dublin as a hub for North America–Europe connections. Companies should, however, monitor forthcoming environmental conditions that may dictate curfews, runway utilisation or aircraft type restrictions once the cap is officially lifted.
Source: Law Society Gazette
