New runway for Dublin’s overstretched
airport
 By Staff
Reporter
DUBLIN Airport is to get a new runway to cope with ever-increasing demand.
The plans were given the go-ahead last week by Fingal County Council —
despite objections from nearby residents.
The new runway will run east to west for 1.6 kilometres and will be parallel
to the existing take off and landing strip.
Airport management say the new runway is vital to cope with an expected
massive increase in flights into and out of Dublin over the next 10 years.
But local residents, who lodged some 800 objections to the application
have pledged they will fight the decision.
Opposition campaign group Uproar has consistently said it does not accept
a major new runway should be built because it would take air traffic over
homes in Portmarnock.
The group says any major expansion of air services in and out of the capital
should be accommodated by a new airport either in the greater Dublin area
or in adjacent counties.
But Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said the new runway was a vital component
of the overall future development plans to allow the complex to handle
more than 30million passengers a year by 2016.
Forecasts of expected growth at Dublin Airport have indicated the new
runway would need to be operational within the next six to seven years
to ensure the airfield can continue to operate effectively and guarantee
passengers were not delayed on arrival and departure.
An airport spokeswoman said: “It is expected that the new runway
will not be brought into operation until usage of the current runway system
is maximised.
“The DAA is working closely with the Irish Aviation Authority and
the airlines operating at Dublin Airport to achieve this objective.
The airport first applied for planning permission for the new runway in
December 2004.
But Fingal County Council sought further information from the authority
on two separate occasions before permission was granted last week.
Dublin Airport is currently one of the fastest-growing facilities in Europe.
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