The Commission for Aviation Regulation has decided not to increase the cap on airport charges at Dublin airport.

In its final decision on the interim review of airport charges at the airport, the commission said it was satisfied, having regard for the forecast numbers of passengers, that the Dublin Airport Authority's (DAA) 2006-2009 capital investment programme could be financed without an increase in the existing cap on passenger airport charges.

The commission also clarified its approach towards the treatment of capital expenditure for the next regulatory period, which it said would allow the DAA to recover reasonably incurred costs of meeting the needs of current and prospective users.

"Today's decision concludes an eight-month interim review of airport charges arising from the need to assess the financial impact of the DAA's revised capital expenditure programme," said aviation regulator Cathal Guiomard. "This programme had not been available to the commission when it last set airport charges in September 2005."

He continued: "The decision gives the DAA and its users clarity on the pricing structures at Dublin airport for the remainder of the current determination period and a clear indication of the commission's approach at the time of the next determination."

The DAA had been looking for the charge to be raised to €7.50 per passenger from the current cap of €6.34.

A spokesman for the DAA said it was analysing the determination in detail and would respond in due course if appropriate.

Ryanair, which has argued that charges should be reduced, criticised the decision, accusing the regulator of failing to protect the interests of users. "The commission's latest decision not to increase the cap on Dublin airport charges until 2009 allows the DAA's high charges at Dublin airport to continue," it said.

Ryanair said the regulator's decision was encouraging the DAA to waste vast sums of money in the knowledge that it would, in 2009/2010, recover the overspending in the form of increased passenger charges.

"It is inevitable that this waste and overspending will ultimately get passed on to Dublin airport passengers in the form of much, much higher charges," said Ryanair's head of regulatory affairs, Jim Callaghan.