Dublin Airport wins approval to increase night-time flights despite local backlash
The decision will also allow the north runway of the airport to be used up to midnight and from 6am, rather than the original permission of up to 11pm and from 7am.
Last September, the planning board said it would limit the number of flights arriving and taking off between 11pm and 7am to 13,000 'movements' per annum, in a move criticised by DAA as 'contradictory' and a 'backwards step.'
However, in its final decision issued on Thursday, it changed this to 35,672 'night-time aircraft movements.'
Furthermore, a noise quota scheme will also apply to aircraft using the north runway, which may limit the types of aircraft that can be used, depending on how noisy they are.
An Coimisiún Pleanála said this would allow for 'airport growth while providing an essential safeguard against excessive night-time activity.'
'The cap also accommodates historic slots and future flexibility,' it said.
'The inclusion of an air traffic movement cap was considered a necessary and proportionate additional operating restriction to ensure that the overall noise environment would not deteriorate and that the increase in nighttime flights would not result in significant adverse effects on the surrounding population and environment.'
A local residents' group, however, has described the new decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála as 'devastating' and said it amounts to a 'capitulation' from the planning board.
They also said it doesn't address the noise issues plaguing locals near the airport.
The issue first came before An Coimisiún Pleanála on foot of an application for a 'relevant action' by DAA to fundamentally alter the planning permission restrictions placed on the airport when the new north runway came into use three years ago.
It was initially approved by Fingal County Council before being appealed to the planning board by groups including Friends of the Irish Environment in August 2022.
While the planning board has now made its decision, it remains open to a Judicial Review challenging its findings.
In a statement, DAA said it welcomed the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála regarding extended hours for the north runway and the introduction of an annual noise quota.
'North Runway is a critical enabler for the growth of Dublin Airport,' said DAA chief Kenny Jacobs. 'We welcome the clarity today's decision brings... [and] reaffirm our clear commitment to engaging with the local community to mitigate the impact of airport operations.'
While DAA expressed disappointment over the imposition of an annual cap of 35,672 night-time aircraft movements in addition to the noise quota, the decision removes a major hurdle to its Infrastructure Application (IA), which seeks permission to grow annual passenger numbers to 40 million.
'Today's decision is also key to unlocking the block preventing FCC from progressing our application to build the piers and stands needed," Mr Jacods said.
"We need to start building — that's our biggest issue, and we need planning permission to do that,' Mr Jacobs said.
He also welcomed the government's plan to address the existing passenger cap through legislation, calling for 'bold, ambitious steps... for our small, open, island economy.'
Read More
Ukrainians may be allowed stay in Ireland once directive expires
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- RTÉ News
€2.35m in EU funding to advance sustainable transport at Dublin Airport
The operator of Dublin and Cork airports has received the first instalment of €2.35m in funding from the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) programme. Daa said the new funding marks a major milestone in the delivery of the Dublin Airport Campus Electrification (DACE) project, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and support the transition to sustainable transport there. The DACE project is co-funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The project will see the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the airport campus, including chargers for landside shuttle buses, EV charging stations for light vehicles and airside shuttle buses as well as charging infrastructure for ground service equipment. The €2.35m grant is part of a wider funding package secured through the CEF AFIF 2024–2025 call, which supports the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure. The total funding secured by daa for the DACE project is €4.7m. "This is great news for the business and for our passengers," Kenny Jacobs, daa's CEO, said. "We're focused on making meaningful progress in sustainable airport operations, and this funding from the European Commission enables us to take another significant step forward," he said. "It's a win for the environment, for innovation, and for Ireland's contribution to a more sustainable transport future," he added. "The Dublin Airport Campus Electrification project is a significant step towards decarbonising airport activities. This project is a concrete contribution to the energy transition in transport to reach climate neutrality in 2050," Richard Ferrer, Head of Alternative Fuels sector at CINEA, the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, said. "With more than €4.7m grant provided by the Connecting Europe Facility (AFIF), the European Union will support the installation of electric charging infrastructure to enhance airport's overall sustainability," he added.
The Journal
4 days ago
- The Journal
Dublin and Cork airports had their busiest month ever in July
JULY WAS THE busiest ever month at both Cork and Dublin airports. Cork Airport welcomed 378,000 passengers, 15% increase on July last year, while Dublin Airport greeted 3.75 million passengers, a 6.9% increase. Every day of July saw over 100,000 passengers use Dublin Airport, with more than 120,000 passengers landing and taking off on 17 days of the month. Airport operator daa said the increase in passenger numbers was the result of high numbers of tourists visiting this summer, as well as high numbers of Irish residents going on holidays abroad. Airport operator daa says that 95% of those passengers got through security in less than 20 minutes. The busiest day at Dublin Airport last month was Sunday, 27 July, when 126,620 passengers passed through. Numbers passing through Dublin Airport during the peak summer months are on track to exceed 11 million this year. So far in June and July, a total of 7.3 million passengers used the airport. Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, said the numbers are a reminder that the passenger cap is 'outdated'. Daa previously applied to Fingal County Council to raise the cap from 32 million to 40 million passengers in December 2023. Advertisement The cap on passenger numbers was a condition of planning permission for Terminal 2 in 2007. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has previously said it is 'imperative' the passenger cap is lifted. Today, Jacobs called the cap a 'fallacy', as the airport is now expecting as many as 36.2 million passengers to pass through by the end of the year – more than initally forecast. 'The growing numbers are a stark reminder of the fallacy of having an out-dated cap on passenger numbers and of the need for the government to follow through on its commitment to do 'whatever we can' to remove the needless restriction,' Jacobs said. 'We, once again, encourage the government to share the solutions under consideration and the timeline to get this done.' The Attorney General has provided legal options to Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien on the Dublin Airport passenger cap. 'I have received initial advices from the Attorney General's office in relation to options that would be available there on a legislative basis. None of them are easy, I would say that. But we're working through them,' O'Brien said in June. At Cork Airport, planning permission has been granted for an extra 670 long-term parking spaces. Planning permission was also recently granted for a new solar farm to be built over its Holiday Blue carpark, which will eventually deliver up to 25% of the airport's electricity needs, according to daa. 'It's a clear example of how a local authority can support its airport as a strategic asset—not just in terms of sustainability, but by enabling the conditions for jobs, investment, and long-term regional growth,' added Jacobs. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Record passenger numbers through Cork and Dublin airports in July
July saw another passenger record for Dublin and Cork airports. Data from operator DAA shows a 15% rise in passenger numbers through Cork compared to July of last year with 378,000 people travelling through the terminal. Dublin Airport saw a 6.9% rise to 3.75m passengers. At Dublin Airport, every single day in July saw more than 100,000 passengers move through the airport's two terminals, with more than 120,000 passengers landing and taking off on 17 days during the month. Daa said the increase was the result of strong incoming tourist numbers as well as high numbers of Irish residents heading off on summer holidays overseas. The busiest day in the month at Dublin Airport was Sunday, July 27 when 126,620 passengers passed through. Numbers passing through Dublin Airport during the peak summer months of June, July and August are on track to exceed 11 million, with the airport having welcomed a total of 7.3 million passengers in June and July combined. Daa CEO Kenny Jacobs said the large numbers in June and July mean they are revising upwards the expected total passenger number through Dublin for the year. "We now forecast that around 36.2m passengers will have used Dublin Airport by year-end," he said. "Cork's progress shows no sign of abating with the airport's winter schedule already taking shape and passengers are going to love Aer Lingus' recently announced two exciting new routes to Prague and Geneva. KLM's announcement of a third daily service from Cork to Amsterdam from October onwards is great news too. 'With the first phase of the €200m Cork Airport capital development plan due to commence imminently, it was encouraging to see Cork City Council granting planning permission in July for an additional 670 long-term car parking spaces," Mr Jacobs said.
