Dublin Airport operator ordered to restrict night-time flights

The operator of Dublin Airport has been ordered to reduce the number of night-time flights at the airport, after Fingal County Council ruled it had breached the conditions of its planning permission.

The council served DAA, the semi-State body which operates the airport, an enforcement order in recent days, ruling that the number of night-time flights at the airport amounted to “unauthorised development”.

When Dublin Airport received approval to build a new north runway, a condition was attached that the average number of flights between 11pm and 7am could not exceed 65 a night, with the existing runway to be used for these night flights.*

The new runway, which opened last August, has been a huge source of noise complaints from local residents, many of whom unexpectedly found their homes were along its flight path.

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In a letter dated July 27th, the council said the airport’s summer schedule of flights was in breach of limits on night-time flights. The council had previously issued the DAA warning letters over night-time flights on foot of complaints from locals.

The enforcement notice said the reason for the conditions on the number of night-time flights was to protect the “residential amenity” of the area.

“The DAA has not sought to remedy the said unauthorised development, there are no compelling reasons for not taking enforcement action”, the order said.

[ Residents near Dublin Airport say relations are at an ‘all-time low’ with DAA after noise insulation offer ]

The council gave the airport operator six weeks to comply with its planning conditions.

In a statement, the DAA said it was “disappointed” by the council’s decision and that it had only been given six weeks to limit flights to at most 65 a night. It said the order was coming “in the middle of the peak summer holiday season”.

The statement called on the council to suspend the “overly onerous conditions” or give the airport operator six months to bring itself into compliance with the flight limits.

“This would avoid any needless disruption to peoples’ travel plans and airlines’ cargo operations,” the statement said.

DAA said a “more appropriate” noise quota should be introduced, instead of a cap on the number of night-time flights, which it said was “no longer a fit-for-purpose”.

The company’s chief executive Kenny Jacobs said the enforcement order would mean the number of night-time flights across the two runways would now be lower than before the second runway opened last year.

“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,” he said.

Mr Jacobs said the council’s decision would be bad for consumers using the airport and the economy. The airport operator also complained about a lack of resources in An Bord Pleanála, which was leading to delays in getting a ruling on a further planning application about a proposed new noise quota system.

Liam O’Gradaigh (54), a member of the local St Margaret’s-The Ward residents group, said their concerns had fallen on “deaf ears” for years. Mr O’Gradaigh, who has lived in the area all his life, said the order made clear that DAA was “knowingly breaching” planning conditions.

He said many residents had “grown up” beside the airport, but the new runway and number of flights was “absolutely” having an impact on people. Residents were being woken by flights at “all hours” and were not able to get a proper sleep, which had “well-known” health effects, he said.

Business representative group Ibec said the six-week timeframe for Dublin Airport to comply with the conditions could cause “unnecessary disruptions” to trade and tourism. Aidan Sweeney, head of enterprise and regulatory affairs at Ibec, said the council’s decision “does not align with good planning and business practices”.

He said the restrictions on night-time flights came at a “crucial time when Dublin should be serving as Ireland’s global gateway”.

*This article was amended on 3rd August 2023 to clarify the restrictions on night-time flights related to the whole airport.