Ryanair calls for passenger funding cap at regional airports to be increased

Ryanair has called on the Minister for Transport to immediately raise the funding cap for Ireland’s regional airports which they say is preventing them from opening a base a Ireland West Airport Knock.

The airline say they want to open a base at the airport but are unable to do so because of the passenger funding cap for regional airports.

Regional airports such as Knock Airport with less than one million passengers are eligible for exchequer funding under under the Department of Transport’s Regional Airports Programme.

Earlier this year, the Mayo airport received €3.6 million under the programme.

Over 818,000 passengers travelled through the airport in 2023 in what was its busiest year on record.

An increase in the passenger cap from one million to two million would allow the airport to increase its
passenger numbers and ensure its eligibility for exchequer funding under the Department of Transport’s Regional Airports Programme.

Ryanair expressed interest in opening a base at Ireland West Airport Knock Airport in a plan presented to Minister Eamon Ryan last March, but are unable to do so due to the passenger funding cap.

The aim of the plan was to grow Irish traffic/tourism by 50 percent to 30 million passengers a year over the next six years.

Under the plan, the airline would invest over $1.6 billion in new aircraft for Irish airports, and create over 800 Irish jobs.

The Minister for Transport has failed to respond to the proposal.

The Department of Transport announced that its midterm review found that the Programme is delivering on its objectives and is in line with Ireland’s National Aviation Policy.

The policy commits to enhancing Ireland's connectivity and maximising the contribution of aviation to
Ireland's sustainable economic growth and development. However, Ryanair have claimed the programme contradicts the policy.

The airline described the programme as ‘blocking growth at regional airports beyond one million
passengers per annum’.

They have called on Minister Eamon Ryan to explain why he would preside over an artificial passenger
cap for regional airports, even though it blocks growth.

Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson called it ‘astounding’ that Ireland’s Minister for Transport not only continues to preside over the passenger cap ‘fiasco’, but is now effectively allowing growth at Ireland’s regional
airports to also be capped.

“It makes no sense that regional airports are being penalised for growing tourism and delivering
economic benefit to the regions. There is no incentive for regional airports, such as Knock, to grow
beyond one million passengers per annum when their regions are trying to grow tourism and jobs,” Mr
Wilson added.