Mr Justice Barry O'Donnell granted a number of airlines an injunction extending the pause pending determination of the main challenge to the cap.

Aer Lingus, Ryanair and a consortium of American carriers had sought a pause on the cap imposed by the Irish Aviation Authority limiting passenger numbers to 25.2 million between late March and October.

As part of a 326-page submission, St Margaret The Ward Residents Group has told Fingal County Council that it overwhelmingly opposes the expansion of operations at Dublin Airport.

The consultants stated that with passenger numbers forecasted to reach 40 million passengers per annum by 2030, "the sustainable growth of the airport is paramount".

A High Court judge on Tuesday said the challenges seem only to be resolvable by referring European law questions to the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU).

The intended judicial review challenges concern the IAA’s decision of last week to limit Dublin Airport passenger numbers to 25.2 million for the summer 2025 season, which runs from late March to October.

Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, the chief executive of Emerald Airlines, Keith Butler, said the current situation where the cap would mean a potential reduction of one million passengers next year, was “madness”