Dublin Airport's second runway has opened and commenced operations with the departure of Ryanair flight FR1964 to Eindhoven at midday today.
The 1,690 metre runway has opened three-and-a-half years after construction commenced.
The runway will deliver additional runway slot capacity for short-haul flights during early morning and late evening peak departure and arrival periods.
The new runway, built at a cost of €320m, is capable of servicing long-haul aircraft such as the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A 380-800 aircraft, and the project involved the building and installation of 300,000 sq m of new runway and taxiways, 6km of internal airport roads, 7.5km of electrical cable, and more than 2,000 new runway and taxiway lights.
"The opening of north runway is an exciting milestone for Dublin Airport and Ireland, with the delivery of this once-in-a-generation piece of vital national infrastructure positioning Ireland for economic growth for many decades to come," said Dalton Philips, CEO of DAA.
In Association with
"The addition of north runway will further enhance the role of Dublin Airport as a vital economic enabler for Irish tourism, trade and foreign direct investment."
Basil Geoghegan, chairman of DAA, said the runway underpins Dublin's position as a hub for travel between Europe and North America, and that the airport authority has a "renewed ambition for Dublin Airport" following Covid-19.
"We are steadfast in our ambition to grow Dublin Airport sustainably and to be a standard bearer for quality service," he added.
"Following on from the north runway development, we will progress at pace our planned capital investment programme in a refurbished terminal, new piers, gates, stands and transfer facilities that will ensure a compelling service and lasting legacy for future generations of air travellers in and out of Ireland.”
Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, welcomed the runway, saying it would grow tourism and reduce air fares at a time of higher oil prices and carbon taxes.
"This combination of new runway capacity at Dublin, will we hope, enable us to continue to grow at Dublin, in a manner that burns less fuel, and reduces noise for the benefit of the neighbouring community, and our millions of passengers," Wilson added.
Logistics concerns
FTA Ireland, the lobby group for freight, passenger and logistics industries, warned of the challenges the new runway will provide for express freight integrated services.
FTAI chief executive Aidan Flynn noted that instead of a numerical cap on the number of flights permitted between certain hours there is an annual noise quota for the airport, which could impact freight services.
“While these changes, which include additional night-time flying hours, will add greater flight availability for passengers arriving and departing Dublin Airport, the new regime will create challenges for the express freight integrated service providers,” Flynn explained.
“Night flights currently transport around €19bn worth of imports and exports each year. Following the changes to the way in which night flights are operated at Dublin Airport, it is critical that crucial express freight services are still prioritised for time slots that support intricate and efficient global supply chain links which rely on overnight flight links.”
Flynn added that the new runway has blocked the direct access to the freight operators’ airside operations.
“This will create significant logistics issues that are not easily resolved. The previous access to the airport enabled loading and unloading to take place in c.10 minutes. The new proposed route along the north perimeter road is 8km long and will take over 30 minutes for each journey.
“FTAI is calling on Dublin Airport Authority to expediate the development of the promised underpass and review the necessary standard of support services, including office accommodation.”
DAA recently tabbed a Sisk/Lagan joint venture to undertake its Dublin Airport airside and landside upgrade programme with a value of c. €325m.
The new North Runway at Dublin Airport (Pix: Conor McCabe)
