Irish Aviation Authority Decision on DUB GA Access Gets NBAA Approval

The NBAA has expressed its approval for a draft decision by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) that ensures continued access for general aviation, including business aircraft, to Dublin Airport (DUB).

This decision comes in response to earlier proposals by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to ban non-scheduled "ad hoc" flights as part of efforts to keep the airport's total annual passenger numbers under a current cap of 32 million. This cap was under scrutiny while discussions about expanding the airport's capacity to 40 million passengers were ongoing.

The draft decision, issued on April 11, 2024, for the winter 2024/2025 travel season, clarifies that the 32 million passenger cap will only apply to the airport's two commercial passenger terminals, effectively preserving the operational rights of general and business aviation through at least March 29, 2025. This move has been seen as essential for maintaining the substantial economic contributions that business aviation provides to Ireland, which includes supporting over 2,000 jobs and contributing approximately €1 billion to the national economy.

NBAA has been actively involved in safeguarding business aviation interests at Dublin Airport, engaging in diplomatic outreach with both the U.S. and Irish ambassadors and collaborating with the Irish Business and General Aviation Association (IBGAA) and the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) to highlight the potential economic drawbacks of restricting business aviation access.

In its comments supporting the IAA's decision, NBAA praised the draft as a "pragmatic" approach that recognizes the limited impact general aviation has on overall airport operations, noting that GA passenger movements were less than 18,000 in 2023. The association also emphasized the broader economic benefits that continued general aviation operations bring to Dublin and its surrounding areas.

However, the IAA has indicated that the exemption for general aviation from the passenger cap is temporary and subject to review in future travel seasons. This ongoing review process reflects the authority's cautious approach to balancing airport capacity and growth with the needs of all stakeholders involved.

FMI: www.NBAA.org