Lawyers for Aer Lingus argued the 2007 planning condition was not a relevant consideration for the IAA in assessing the airport's capacity. In applying it for the first time to its assessment of the winter 2024/25 season, the IAA departed from the status quo, said Paul Sreenan SC, instructed by McCann Fitzgerald solicitors. Aer Lingus and Ryanair are also legally challenging the IAA's imposition of a 14.4 million seat cap over the winter period, which runs from now to March 2025. DAA is challenging this decision too, but it argues the cap is too lenient and will cause the airport to breach the binding 2007 planning condition. The court is due to hear those cases in December. The IAA was neutral on the airlines' application but told the court it would stand over its decision at a full hearing of the airlines' cases. DAA opposed the application, arguing it would facilitate a breach of the 2007 planning condition and expose the airport authority to enforcement action and potential criminal sanction.