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Midlands airport – a long-term solution to Dublin passenger cap?

The solutions are obvious

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott — The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.

Wed Feb 11 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir, – The problems most often cited due to lifting the cap on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport are traffic congestion and noise pollution.

The solutions are obvious. A metro to the existing airport and the development of a second airport. The first is well aired and is for the long term. The second could be achieved relatively quickly by developing the existing airport in west Dublin.

For the longer term, building an airport in the midlands centred in Athlone and providing the transport links to the rest of the country in tandem would bring great prosperity to that region of the country. – Yours, etc,

Fred McGee,