Aer Lingus chief executive Lynne Embleton has warned that a new restriction on night-time flight movements at Dublin Airport will hamper the airline’s growth, particularly on transatlantic routes, and deter the expansion of short-haul operations based in the capital.
Speaking in the wake of a recent An Coimisiún Pleanála ruling, Embleton described the annual cap on night-time aircraft movements as “unnecessary” and said it would obstruct the airline’s ability to increase its long-haul services and base additional aircraft at Dublin.
“This restriction on night-time movements will have to be removed,” Embleton said. “Together with the continued uncertainty around the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, it will have negative economic and employment impacts.”
Calling for immediate political action, Embleton urged the Irish Government to intervene by legislating to lift the current passenger cap at the airport. “It is now imperative that Government intervenes and urgently legislates for the removal of the passenger cap,” she added.
The comments come as Aer Lingus reported a strong financial performance for the second quarter of 2025, posting an operating profit of €135 million — a 48% increase on the €91 million recorded in the same period last year. For the first half of the year, Aer Lingus reported an operating profit of €80 million, up from just €9 million in the first six months of 2024.
The airline, which is part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), credited its performance to capacity growth, robust demand, and favourable fuel pricing. Passenger numbers rose by 4.3% in the second quarter, while overall capacity increased by 10.9%.
Aer Lingus is currently operating its largest-ever transatlantic network, having launched new services to Nashville and Indianapolis earlier this summer. The airline also expanded its European leisure offerings and announced its first direct flight to Cancún, Mexico, set to begin in January 2026.
Embleton said the airline’s positive second-quarter results build on strong momentum from the end of 2024 and the early part of this year. However, she reiterated that regulatory barriers at Dublin Airport threaten to derail that progress.
“With demand for travel continuing to grow, constraints on operations at our main hub could limit our ability to meet customer needs and support Ireland’s economic ambitions,” she said.
