Ryanair has confirmed the 17 routes it intends to cancel from Dublin Airport this winter in response to what it claims to be a 45 per cent cost increase set by the Dublin Airport Authority (daa).

In addition, the airline announced on Thursday that it is moving its entire Dublin-based enviro-friendly fleet of 19 aircraft to other EU airports that incentivise airlines to grow passenger numbers with quieter, lower CO2 emission aircraft.

The rising costs are symptomatic of the Dublin Airport operator's intent to fund a "portfolio of unnecessary vanity projects which have no benefit for passengers," according to Ryanair.

Read More: Ryanair slams 'unnecessary vanity projects' by daa as it cuts 17 routes from Dublin Airport

The Michael O'Leary budget carrier cited the daa’s €250m underground cargo tunnel as an example, labelling the project "superfluous" and claiming it could have been modelled on the low-cost crossing system seen at Cologne Airport – home of Europe's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

During the scathing attack on the airport operator, Ryanair criticised the daa's inaction in plans to expand T1 capacity by integrating low-cost gates into the existing infrastructure and growing connections, ultimately growing the economy, stating that it is instead "fixated on building a €250 million tunnel that goes nowhere".

Dublin Airport
Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport

The airline revealed to the Irish Mirror the 17 routes from Dublin Airport that it is pulling in response to so-called rising costs:

  • Carcassonne, France
  • Nuremberg, Germany
  • Billund, Denmark
  • Bournemouth, UK
  • Castellón, Spain
  • Genova, Italy
  • Klagenfurt, Austria
  • Košice, Slovakia
  • Leipzig, Germany
  • Asturias, Spain
  • Plovdiv, Bulgaria
  • Palanga, Lithuania
  • Palermo, Italy
  • Sibiu, Romania
  • Santiago, Spain
  • Suceava, Romania
  • Szczecin, Poland

Daa has since responded to the "patently false" claims made by Ryanair with regard to cost increases. It insists that costs are set to increase by only six per cent next year, as opposed to the staggering 45 per cent suggested by the budget airline.

Kenny Jacobs, daa’s CEO said: "Ryanair’s claim of a 45 per cent increase in charges in 2024 is false. As Ryanair knows well, the aeronautical charges at Dublin Airport are regulated by the IAA who set the maximum level of charges at Dublin Airport."

Jacobs added: "Rather than depending on the back of a scratch card mathematics, I would urge those making such false statements, to redo their sums and more importantly study the range of sustainability incentives proposed at Dublin Airport and join us on the journey to a carbon-free aviation eco-system over the coming years."

Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.