DAA denies Ryanair claims that airport charges will increase by 45% in 2024

Cillian Sherlock, PA

The operator of Dublin Airport, DAA, has denied claims by Ryanair that its airport charges will increase by 45 per cent next year.

Following the claims by the airline on Thursday morning, DAA said charges are set by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and are only due to increase by 6 per cent in 2024.

It comes as Ryanair announced it is cutting its winter 2023/2024 schedule at Dublin Airport in response to increased passenger charges.

The airline cancelled 17 routes and moved 19 aircraft to alternative EU airports which it says incentivise airlines with quieter, lower emission aircraft.

Responding to Ryanair's claims, DAA's chief executive Kenny Jacobs said: “I am surprised and disappointed that Ryanair would seek to reconfigure its based aircraft at Dublin Airport this winter when they could pay even lower ultra-low cost charges if they choose to avail of the suite of sustainability incentives we have proposed for 2024.

“I am baffled why any airline with sustainability ambitions would choose to turn down the opportunity to operate lower CO₂ emissions and less noisy aircraft at Dublin Airport by turning down the new discount schemes.”

He stressed that Ryanair's claims about a 45 per cent increase in charges in 2024 is false, adding the airline needs to “redo their sums”.

In its earlier statement confirming the winter schedule, Ryanair said they made the decision due to DAA’s “rising passenger charges of 45 per cent, ongoing Capex mismanagement and their failure to deliver a meaningful environmental incentive scheme that rewards lower emission aircraft”.

“Daa has a history of mismanagement at Dublin Airport, including understaffing summer security, wasting taxpayers’ money on ill-thought-out infrastructure projects and failing to support low-cost access and sustainable growth,” the airline added.