Dublin Airport Night Flight Expansion Approved

New planning permission has been granted allowing a significant increase in night-time flight operations at Dublin Airport.

The planning approval, granted by Ireland’s national planning authority, An Coimisiún Pleanála, means the airport can now increase its average night-time flights from 65 to 95 between the hours of 11:00pm and 7:00am.

For travellers from Northern Ireland using Dublin Airport for long-haul or early-morning European flights, this change could bring more options and smoother travel planning.

One of the key changes involves the airport’s second runway, known as the North Runway, which was previously off-limits for night-time use. The new ruling allows operations on the North Runway until midnight and from 6:00am, adding extra capacity during key early and late hours.

To balance the increase in flight activity with community concerns, a ‘Noise Quota Scheme’ will be introduced. This means only quieter aircraft will be permitted to operate on the North Runway during night-time hours. Any aircraft exceeding set noise thresholds will not be allowed to take off or land at night.

In total, a cap of 35,672 night-time flights per year has been imposed, spread across a 364-day period. The commission says this limit is designed to safeguard the well-being of nearby residents while allowing for continued growth at Dublin Airport.

Importantly, the combination of a flight cap and noise control measures was chosen specifically to prevent the negative effects of an unchecked rise in night-time flights, protecting both the local environment and quality of life for surrounding communities.

With enhanced night-time flight capacity and extended runway access, passengers could benefit from more flexible flight times, reduced congestion, and improved connectivity, especially for transatlantic and early morning European routes.