Is the restriction on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport doing untold damage to our economy?

Plus, conflict and AI top of the agenda at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Listen | 39:09
Aer Lingus would like to see changes to the cap of 32 million passengers per year and restrictions on take-offs and landings between 11pm and 7am at Dublin Airport. Photograper: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
Aer Lingus would like to see changes to the cap of 32 million passengers per year and restrictions on take-offs and landings between 11pm and 7am at Dublin Airport. Photograper: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

New research commissioned by Aer Lingus points to the current restrictions on passenger capacity at Dublin Airport potentially costing the Irish economy €1.4 billion for every 1 million passengers not allowed to arrive into the airport. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Aer Lingus, Donal Moriarty, joined host Ciaran Hancock in studio to discuss the findings of the report and the likely implications for the airline in terms of its own growth at Dublin Airport this year and next.

And we are joined on the line from the Swiss ski resort town of Davos by Eoin Buke-Kennedy. He is attending the World Economic Forum, which sees the great and the good of politics and commerce come together for the annual event. Headline speakers this year include Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen. Minister for Finance Michael McGrath is also in attendance, keen to press home the message that Ireland is a leading location for foreign direct investment.

Produced by John Casey. JJ Vernon on sound.