DOT EXTENDS DUBLIN AIRPORT DISPUTE PROCEEDING
April 20, 2026
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On March 5, 2026, DOT issued an order which provided additional time for intergovernmental negotiations to continue in response to the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act complaint filed by Airlines for America against the Republic of Ireland and the European Union. By way of background, Airlines for America filed the initial complaint due to concerns that Ireland and the European Union were violating the U.S.-European Union Air Transport Agreement by restricting the number of passengers at Dublin International Airport to 32 million passengers per year. In the latest filings, A4A continues to assert such allegations and further contends that DOT must ensure that Ireland enacts legislation removing the purported passenger cap at DUB by April 2026. If DOT fails to enforce compliance with U.S.-European Union Air Transport Agreement and guarantee removal of the passenger cap, A4A worries that U.S. air carrier historic slots at DUB will be withdrawn and competitive distortions will emerge at the expense of the traveling public. To promote intergovernmental discussions and legislative remedies, DOT extended the period by which U.S. regulators must act through April 6, 2026.
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