Finance Minister warns passenger cap could derail economic growth [Video]

Dublin Airport is on course to breach its 32million yearly passenger cap, with airlines already beginning to cut operations due to uncertainty, writes Ian Begley.

And yesterday Finance Minister Jack Chambers warned the cap is threatening to derail the country’s economic growth.

Despite efforts to curtail demand, the DAA, which operates the airport, predicts that passenger numbers this year will surpass the cap by about one million.

However, neither the DAA nor Fingal County Council could clarify what the consequences for such a breach are.

Kenny Jacobs, DAA CEO, warned there will be a loss of aviation jobs next year as a result of the passenger limit.

“Overall, I’m optimistic about the future except for one thing: the fact that growth at Dublin Airport is now being stalled by an outdated passenger cap, a very lengthy planning process and a lack of joined-up thinking on critical infrastructure in Ireland,” he said.

“This …