The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has decided to extend a deadline for action against Irish carriers, despite Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin International) asking it to dismiss a request from lobby group Airlines for America (A4A).

Legacy US carriers had called on the US government to intervene in the case of limiting passenger numbers at Dublin International by limiting or suspending the rights of Irish airlines for US operations. A4A said that despite the announced revision of the rules, it believed that the deadline for action on their complaint should be extended to September 20, 2026, to allow more time for the implementation of new rules that could scrap the 32 million passenger cap altogether.

Aer Lingus had opposed the extension, saying no US carrier had been harmed since the complaint was initially filed on January 5. The Irish carrier had supported A4A’s complaint at the time of that filing.