The runway is set to generate €2.2 billion in additional economic activity.
As announced earlier this week, the North Runway at Dublin Airport has opened today, with an inaugural flight taking off at midday on Wednesday (24 August).
According to the daa, the new runway is set to create 31,200 new jobs, along with €2.2 billion in additional economic activity.
The €320 million project was set to be finished in early 2021, but was delayed until now.
The North Runway was designed to be fully compliant with European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards to operate as a Category IIIB runway, which is capable of servicing larger, typically long-haul aircraft, including Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380-800 aircraft.
“The new North Runway will provide much-needed capacity and will enable Dublin Airport to rebuild and enhance connectivity to our island, putting Ireland in a strong position to facilitate increased economic activity,” said Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State at the Department of Transport.
“The new runway is a crucial piece of infrastructure which will enable Dublin Airport to expand and provide the necessary capacity to connect key existing and emerging global markets.
“I wish to commend all the hard-working staff and management at daa for completing such a key national infrastructure project within budget.”
Dublin Airport Authority (daa) CEO Dalton Philips described the runway as a “once-in-a-generation piece of vital national infrastructure positioning Ireland for economic growth for many decades to come”.
“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. I am enormously proud of everyone who helped deliver this remarkable piece of aviation engineering both on budget and on schedule, ready to commence operation at a vital time for aviation and for Ireland.”
The inaugural flight, Ryanair flight FR1964 to Eindhoven, was live streamed on the Dublin Airport YouTube channel.
Clip via Dublin Airport
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