Dublin Airport Authority Plans To Start Construction Next Year

The Dublin Airport Authority (daa) is progressing its plans to deliver a new runway for Dublin Airport.

The 10,200 foot runway will be built about a mile north of the existing main runway and is expected to be delivered in 2020. Dublin Airport is investing in the region of €320 million (approx. $364 million) in this multi-faceted project which will comprise multiple contracts and packages of works.

Dublin Airport received planning permission in August 2007 to build a new runway, but the plans were put on hold due to the economic downturn and subsequent fall in passenger numbers. However, the recovery in passenger numbers, particularly in the past two years, has been significant. The continuation of growth at Dublin Airport is dependent on having sufficient capacity available to satisfy future demand.

“Last year was the busiest year ever in the airport’s history with a record 25 million passengers travelling in 2015. Passenger numbers continue to grow strongly in 2016 with double digit growth recorded in the first two months of this year,” said daa Chief Executive Kevin Toland. “We are progressing our plans to deliver the new runway in accordance with the development and pathway for growth outlined in the Government’s National Aviation Policy (NAP). Dublin Airport’s North Runway will significantly improve Ireland’s connectivity supporting trade, foreign direct investment and tourism,” he added.

The rapid recovery in passenger numbers is due to a combination of almost 50 new routes and services, significant additional capacity increases on a number of existing routes, and nine new airlines operating at Dublin Airport. Total long-haul connectivity has grown by more than 65% since T2 opened, while short-haul connectivity has increased by 16%. “Driven by demand from airlines and passengers, Dublin Airport’s current runway infrastructure is at capacity during the peak hours and this must be addressed to enable future growth. The north runway will significantly improve Ireland’s connectivity which plays a critical role in growing passenger numbers and sustaining the future economic development of Ireland,” said Toland.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, welcomed the news saying that the runway project was a vital piece of infrastructure that would support Ireland’s continuing economic recovery. “This project is of major strategic importance to Ireland as an island economy, in terms of improved connectivity. It has the potential to create thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, over the coming years. Our National Aviation Policy (NAP) recognises our dependence on aviation for our links with the rest of the world and the importance of ensuring that the sector can continue to grow to underpin economic recovery and development," he said.

“In recent years, Dublin Airport has experienced a strong and sustainable return to growth. However, in order to capitalise on this growth and sustain it into the future, we need to put in place the appropriate airport infrastructure. I welcome daa’s plans in this regard and also the company’s commitment to work closely with all stakeholders, including local residents and community groups, in relation to the delivery of the new runway.”

The North Runway has featured in successive Local Area and County Development Plans since the 1970s. As a result of years of careful planning, land for this development was safeguarded over 40 years ago, so the runway will be delivered within the airport’s existing land bank.

Enabling works are due to commence later this year with construction of the north runway scheduled to start in 2017.

(Image provided with daa news release)

FMI: www.daa.ie