The Dublin Airport Authority (daa) has announced today that it will press ahead with plans to deliver a new runway for Dublin Airport.
The 3,110 metre runway will be built 1.6km north of the existing main runway and is expected to be completed in 2020.
Dublin Airport said that it is investing in the region of €320 million in "a 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.
"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 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, said the daa.
