Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin International) believes there is a “serious risk” that the United States government could retaliate and restrict its number of transatlantic flights if a passenger cap at Dublin International is not lifted.

Speaking at a parliamentary committee scrutinising a proposed law to lift the limit of 32 million passengers a year, Aer Lingus chief executive Lynne Embleton said that any delay in approving the law “materially increases” the risk of forced cuts.

She added that forcing Dublin airport to slash passenger numbers would be economically “catastrophic”, with the loss of every million passengers costing EUR1.4 billion euros (USD1.6 billion) in lost spending, EUR320 million (USD370 million) in taxes, and up to 37,000 jobs.

Chris Sununu, chief executive of the trade body Airlines for America, told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport that “there’s a very strong possibility that you will lose flights to New York, that you will lose flights to the US, absolutely.”

The Irish government has pledged to enact a new law by the early summer to lift the 32 million passenger cap. Embleton urged the Irish government to pass the law quickly. If it is not enacted, then a European court ruling due in months could force the Irish Aviation Authority to impose the limit for summer 2027.