DOT SLOW WALKS U.S. RETALIATION IN DUBLIN PASSENGER CAP DISPUTE
July 27, 2026
Eckert Seamans has prepared the information in this update for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice nor substitute for legal advice. Neither your receipt of information from this website nor your use of this website to contact Eckert Seamans or one of its attorneys creates an attorney-client relationship, as the firm may, for example, already represent another party involved in your matter. Accordingly, you should not provide confidential information to Eckert Seamans. Persons seeking legal advice should consult a licensed professional attorney in their state. The firm’s Terms of Use, Legal Notice, and Disclaimer detailed herein are expressly incorporated into the Aviation Regulatory Update.
On June 5, 2026, DOT issued Order 2026-6-4 which further postponed regulatory action in the passenger cap dispute at Dublin Airport. Even though Airlines for America first filed a complaint under the International Air Transportation Fair Competitive Practices Act in January 2026, U.S. regulators continue to slow walk any decision on whether to impose sanctions and/or limit the economic authority of certain European air carriers, especially as the judicial and legislative processes in Ireland plays out. The Irish government recently took an important step towards removing the passenger cap as Ireland’s Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien confirmed that legislation abolishing the passenger cap at DUB should be enacted in the coming weeks. A final legislative package authorizing Ireland’s Minister for Transport to amend or otherwise revoke the existing passenger restrictions and proactively prevent any future caps could be passed in short order. As DOT views the situation, carriers should expect an “imminent” resolution of A4A’s complaint because intergovernmental negotiations are postured to resolve the dispute shortly and protect historic U.S. air carrier slot rights at DUB without restoring to retaliatory measures.
This Aviation Blog Post is intended to keep readers current on developments in the law. It is not intended to be legal advice. If you have any questions, please contact Evelyn Sahr at 202.659.6622 or esahr@eckertseamans.com; Drew Derco at 202.659.6665 or dderco@eckertseamans.com; Tyler Myers at 202.659.6642 or trmyers@eckertseamans.com, or any other attorney at Eckert Seamans with whom you have been working.
Share This Post
Authors
