Willie Walsh's Speech at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today on behalf of the International Air Transport Association. IATA represents over 360 airlines that carry some 85% of the world’s air traffic and the majority operating at Dublin Airport.
Ireland’s aviation sector is not simply an important industry—it is a strategic national asset. Air connectivity underpins Ireland’s role as a global, outward‑looking economy. It enables trade, tourism, foreign direct investment, and supports the country’s integration into international business, technology, and innovation networks. Dublin Airport is the State’s primary international gateway, and the country’s hub. When its capacity is constrained, Ireland’s international connectivity, competitiveness, and economic growth are constrained with it.
Aviation contributes more than USD 20 billion to Ireland’s GDP and supports approximately 128,000 jobs, with air-enabled tourism generating a further USD 22 billion[1]. These benefits depend on airlines being able to grow where demand exists.
The long-standing passenger cap at Dublin Airport now poses a real and immediate risk. It restricts route development, limits consumer choice, and undermines Ireland’s attractiveness for investment and tourism. Uncertainty around capacity means airlines are already evaluating alternative airports for future growth—decisions that may become permanent.
The General Scheme of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 is therefore both necessary and urgent. It replaces an outdated planning condition with a modern, transparent mechanism that enables the Minister to act when the cap is causing economic or connectivity harm. That harm is happening today and will continue to impact Ireland’s competitiveness if not resolved quickly.
Timing is critical to remove the current uncertainty. Airlines begin planning for the Summer 2027 season this September, with Dublin Airport’s capacity declaration due by 1 October. If certainty is not restored before then, airlines will be forced to plan on the assumption that the cap remains. Once capacity assumptions are embedded through capacity declaration and slot allocation processes, they become difficult to unwind and once airlines’ aircraft, crews, and schedules are allocated to other routes, decisions are unlikely to be reversed. Ireland risks losing connectivity that may not return.
We fully understand that environmental compliance is required. However, the reality is that extended sequencing of processes, consultations, and information requests can push timelines far beyond what the industry’s global scheduling system can accommodate. Prolonged uncertainty would itself cause significant harm.
The Bill gives Government the tools it needs; what matters now is using them quickly and decisively. Swift enactment and commencement are essential to protect Ireland’s connectivity and economic resilience.
IATA strongly supports urgent passage of this legislation. The risks of delay are significant and avoidable. Ireland needs a functioning framework that reflects the realities of global aviation and protects its role in international air transport.
Thank you. I look forward to your questions.
