Dublin Airport given tight deadline to reduce night-time flights

Simon Kelly

In response, the DAA have criticised the timing of the restrictions.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has been ordered to restrict its nighttime flights after it was alleged to breach strict planning permission rules on its new north runway.

The runway, which opened in August 2022, was the subject of controversy upon its launch, as many locals lodged complaints that it would interfere with noise levels in their homes.

Subsequently, a clause within the planning permission granted to the airport gave a strict number of 65 flights maximum to be allowed each night.

However, Fingal County Council released a statement today saying that the DAA breached the rule and now has six weeks to reduce the number of “aircraft movements” to 65 or less each night within six weeks.

Dublin Airport given tight deadline to reduce night-time flights.

The full statement sent to JOE reads:

“In response to complaints received about an alleged breach of Condition 5 of the Planning Permission for the North Runway in relation to night-time flights at Dublin Airport, the Planning Authority has carried out an investigation under Section 153 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

“Further to this investigation, the Planning Authority has made a decision to serve a Planning Enforcement Notice and issued an Enforcement Notice, requiring the daa to conform with Condition 5 within six weeks of the date of the notice, so that the average number of night-time aircraft movements at the airport is 65 aircraft movements per night or less – when measured over the 92-day modelling period.”

In response, the DAA have expressed disappointment in the decision and have criticised the timing, seeing as it is now the height of summer holiday season. A request to change the time frame from six weeks to six months was also raised.

Kenny Jacobs, DAA CEO, said:

“We now face an unnecessary situation whereby Fingal County Council requires its interpretation of these onerous operating conditions to be applied at Dublin Airport – and within just six weeks.

“Unreasonably, this would mean the number of flights operating on Dublin Airport’s two runways between 11pm and 7am would be lower than before North Runway opened and when it only had one runway.

“It would be like increasing the number of seats in Croke Park to 100,000 but cutting the capacity for games to 50,000. It makes no sense, and the travelling public deserves better.”

Mr Jacobs also added that the DAA is committed to working with Fingal County Council and called on them to “see sense on this issue.”