Analysis

Tough questions and climate concerns put DAA on back foot over passenger cap

DAA is seeking to raise the passenger cap at Dublin Airport by eight million to 40 million to allow for future expansion

The plan to hike the passenger cap from 32 million to 40 million has divided opinion

It started out as a promising week for DAA, with senior ministers including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Michael McGrath lining up to back its plan to funnel eight million more passengers a year through Dublin Airport.

As environmental concerns grew and its top brass struggled to allay them, the sheen soon came off the proposals though and the airport operator found itself fighting a rearguard action.

DAA’s plan to hike the passenger cap from 32 ...