Christmas flights to Lapland are at risk, Michael O’Leary warns

Could Lapland flights be cancelled?

Michael O'Leary has confirmed that the popular flights may be impacted due to the limit on how many flights come in and out of the airport.

The airline boss said some families may be let down if they're planning a trip to Lapland to see Santa.

He called on the Transport Minister to allow additional flights from Dublin Airport this winter.

"The Irish Transport Minister has the power to issue a Letter of Direction to the Irish Aviation Authority, telling them to allow these regular winter extras for Leinster Rugby flights, for Santa flights to Lapland at Christmas, and hundreds of Christmas extras to/from Dublin, which enable thousands of Irish families to reunite over the Christmas holidays."

O'Leary said it is "unacceptable that Ireland’s Transport Minister won’t exercise his legal power to approve these extra flights."

"If he won’t act (as he has failed to for four years now), we then call on Green Tourism Minister Catherine Martin to take action," he continued.

Ryanair claimed that Eamon Ryan has the power to allow the additional flights, but he has chosen not to.

"Dublin Airport opened a second runway in 2022, taking runway capacity up to 60 million passengers."

O'Leary claims that because of Ryan's "failure to act," airlines cannot add additional flights or use the second runway effectively.

He stressed that this move is necessary to allow Irish families to travel to Lapland from Dublin, not Belfast.

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