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Yes. Amending two of the current planning permission conditions is critical and of huge significance to Dublin Airport, Fingal and the whole of Ireland.
 
If airlines are unable to obtain early morning or late evening slots at Dublin, the result will be a reduction in air services, increased airfares and reduced business. This in turn would lead to lower competitiveness and loss of connectivity with Ireland’s customers in global markets. The scale of loss would be up to 3m passengers in the first full year of North Runway operations, rising to 6.6m in 2037. 
 
  • Construction Package 1 is complete. The works involved new road construction, road realignment, site preparation, services diversions, compound formation and erection of site security fencing.
  • Construction Package 2, which involves the construction of the runway, is being undertaken by a joint venture comprising of Irish firm Roadbridge and Spanish infrastructure company FCC Construcción. To find out more click here.
  • Main construction works began earlier this year and are progressing on schedule. To find out more click here
  • Works have commenced on first phase of our residential insulation programme. Statements of Need have been issued to phase two households and information events for participating residents took place in May 2019. 
  • Engagement is ongoing via the St Margaret’s Community Liaison Group, the Dublin Airport Environmental Working Group, Drop-In-Clinics and meetings with local resident groups and individual neighbours. 

Dublin Airport is one of the most important economic assets in the country. The airport is Ireland’s main gateway, handling 85% of all air traffic into and out of the State. 

It generates or facilitates 117,300 jobs and €8.3 billion worth of economic activity. 
North Runway will facilitate the creation of 31,200 new jobs by 2043 and will add €2.2 billion to Ireland’s GDP during the same period. The majority of this economic contribution is expected to occur outside of the direct aviation sector in areas such as tourism, trade and investment – and this non-aviation impact will be spread throughout the country.
 
Airlines choose where they want to fly to and from based on the demand for their services. If an airline chooses to operate a service from Dublin, but due to capacity constraints, it cannot, the service could be lost to Dublin but more importantly, Ireland would most likely lose that service also. As a result, to enable future economic growth, daa has been mandated by Government to provide much needed additional runway capacity.
The installation contractor for Phase 1 of the insulation programme has been appointed and works have commenced. Surveys have been completed on Phase 2 dwellings and Statements of Need have been issued to households. Further information events for eligible residents took place in May 2019.
Since April 2016, when we announced our plans to proceed with North Runway, there has been extensive engagement with communities. 
 
daa has met 1,600 local residents either individually or in groups. We have held 19 public events – a combination of public consultation events, Drop-In-Clinics and mitigation scheme information events. We have also held 18 meetings with the St. Margaret’s Community Liaison Group which has representatives from local resident’s groups and local organisations. We have dropped leaflets to more than 41,000 local homes and sent 3,100 emails and 1,800 letters to stakeholders.
 
We operate an open-door policy and we’re happy to meet with community members at any time. 

Construction

North Runway will be 3,110m when complete.
There are no plans to extend the runway beyond the current permitted length of 3,110m.
North Runway will be located approximately 1.69km to the north of the existing main runway 10/28.
 
The first phase of runway construction commenced in December 2016 and was completed 12 months later.  The works involved new road construction, road realignment, site preparation, services diversions, compound formation and erection of site security fencing. To find out more click here.
The second phase, which is the main construction phase, covers the detailed design, construction, testing, commissioning and completion of the 3,110m runway, taxiways and associated infrastructure.
The main works associated with this phase commenced in early 2019. North Runway is due to be delivered in 2021.
daa has consistently stated that there is no requirement for the construction of a third terminal at this point in time. The current terminals have sufficient capacity to deal with the projected increase in passenger traffic. In addition, a €900 million Capital Investment Programme is proposed to provide the capacity needed to allow growth in traffic and to enable further expansion. The programme will deliver new boarding gate areas, aircraft parking stands and many other significant improvements.
No. The proposed exit route for the metro is beyond the eastern end of the new runway. 

Operating Restrictions 

The current runway system at Dublin Airport is under significant capacity strain and is now full 86% of the time. This means that Dublin Airport currently has no departure slots available for a daily service from 6am to 9pm and growth is starting to falter due to a lack of runway capacity. North Runway will bring more runway capacity which means more choice for customers, more competition and connectivity, boosting tourism, trade and foreign direct investment. To find out more click here.
 
 

Planning Permission for North Runway included 31 conditions. daa has consistently signaled its concerns with regard to two of these conditions due to the constraints on flight movements that would be imposed, airport-wide, once North Runway becomes operational: 

  • Condition 3(d) prohibits use of North Runway for landings and take-offs between the hours of 11pm and 7am.
  • Condition 5 states that, on completion of construction of the new runway, the average number of night time aircraft movements (during the busy summer period) at the airport shall not exceed 65 per night (between 11pm and 7am).
 
The times that the proposed restrictions are active, include two of the busiest hours for any airport (the 7am hour for departing flights and the 11pm hour for arrivals). Between 11pm and 7am, Dublin Airport currently handles c. 100 flights during our busy summer months. If these two conditions are not amended, that number would reduce to 65 after North Runway opens. This means that the restrictions would result in lower capacity on two runways at key periods, than is currently available with one.  The resultant effect of this is the loss of up to 3m passengers upon the opening of North Runway.
 

The operating restrictions will have a hugely negative influence on the airport’s current operations and its potential to develop and grow in the future. The impacts of the restrictions include:

  • Increasing capacity constraints: Traffic forecasts indicate the potential for passenger throughput figures of up to 36 million by 2022 and up to 50 million by 2037. Aircraft movements are also set to increase. The existing runway network is now full for large parts of the operational day and the additional capacity that North Runway provides is required, particularly at peak periods in early morning and late evening, to service the growing demand. 
  • Jeopardising the creation and retention of long-haul services: At 3,110m, North Runway can facilitate flights to long-haul destinations such as Africa, Asia and South America. However, attracting new long-haul services, ahead of other European airports, could be impeded due to the lack of operational flexibility the restrictions will bring. The airport is also a key gateway between Europe and North America, with transfer passenger numbers increasing by 18% to 1.8million in 2018. The operating restrictions in the 11pm to 7am period will limit scope for developing those long-haul services to North America.
  • Impacting connectivity development: In 2018, 29.4 million people started and ended their journey at Dublin Airport, whilst a further 2.1 million passengers used the airport as a hub. An increasing proportion of long-haul passengers are seeking to connect onto early morning UK and European flights. The proposed restrictions would negatively impact opportunities for flight connections, which in turn reduces the likelihood of new routes being established.
Amending the two operating conditions is critical and of huge significance to Dublin Airport, Fingal and the whole of Ireland. The forgone economic impact suggests that, as a result of the restrictions, the Irish economy could forgo an additional 17, 400 job and €1.2 billion GDP by 2037. Other impacts include:
 
  • Loss of business connectivity with Ireland’s customers in global markets
  • Reduction in air services
  • Increased air fares 

Dublin Airport is currently licensed to operate without restrictions. The restrictive conditions are due to be implemented, airport wide, upon the completion of North Runway.
We believe that the case for amending the two restrictive conditions is compelling and we will be making that case as part of an independent assessment process. We intend to engage fully with the new Competent Authority on the matter. 
 
No. In 2016, an incentive was introduced between 05:00-05:56 in an effort to encourage some of the excess demand for slots between 6am and 7am, the busiest time of the day, to relocate. However, this incentive had a limited impact on airline behavior because market demand is focused on the period between 6am and 8am, as this is the time that people want to travel. As a consequence of this and in consideration for our neighbours, this incentive has now been discontinued. 
 

Noise

This very much depends on where you live in relation to the airport and the flight paths.  Every effort will be taken to minimise the impact of North Runway on local communities.  We will continue to work with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and airlines on operating procedures that limit noise impact i.e. noise preferential routes, environmental noise corridors, noise abatement procedures and continuous descent approach. We have published details of projected future noise contours once North Runway is operational and these contours can be viewed here.

This depends on where the house is located in relation to the airport's current and proposed flight paths, along with other factors such as the standard of insulation in the house. Details on the expected flight paths, once operations on North Runway commence, are available here.

No. In common with airports across Europe, noisier aircraft (referred to as Chapter 2 aircraft) are banned from Dublin Airport. Furthermore, in 2018 over 90% of aircraft using Dublin Airport were the quietest types (known as Chapter 4 and 14) compared to 83% in 2008 and 46% in 2003. This reflects the increased number of new aircraft used by Dublin Airport’s biggest carriers, namely Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Both airlines are planning to continue to introduce newer and even quieter aircraft over the coming years.
The standard method for assessing noise impacts from airborne aircraft involves the production of noise contours which illustrate the spread of noise around the airport. The contours join locations that are exposed to the same levels of noise. These contours show a set of closed curves on a map and are analogous to the contours on an ordinary map showing places at the same height. There are several different parameters that can be used to describe the effects of noise, many of which determine an ‘average’ level of noise across a given period.
 
Sound Exposure Levels reflect the noise energy of a single aircraft event in one second. 
 
When a noise varies over time, the LAeq is the equivalent continuous sound which would contain that same sound energy as the varying sound. It is common practice to measure noise using the average (A-weighting) setting. The A-weighting approximates the sensitivity of our ear to different frequencies (pitch) in the sound and helps to assess the relative loudness of various sounds. 
 
daa typically uses average contours (LAeq) for assessing the impact of new infrastructure such as runways: 
 
  • LAeq day noise contours cover a 16-hour period (7am to 11pm) over 92 days during the Airport's busiest summer months.
  • LAeq night noise contours cover a 8-hour period (11pm to 7am) over 92 days during the Airport's busiest summer months.

This approach is in line with that used at many other European airports and is consistent with the metrics used in the conditions set out in An Bord Pleanala's grant of planning for North Runway.

The Lden unit is a LAeq for the whole 24-hour period but includes weightings depending on when, during the 24-hour period, the noise occurs. If the noise occurs during the 12-hour day (07.00-19.00) there is no adjustment. If it occurs during the evening (19.00-2300) a weighting of +5dB(A) is added and it if is at night time (23.00-07.00) a weighting of +10dB(A) is added.  
Flight paths are the designated routes aircraft follow under the direction of Air Traffic Control (ATC). Air Traffic Control in Ireland is delivered by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA-ATC). While flight paths are often shown as single lines on a map, it is not always possible for aircraft to fly exactly along that line. In practice, flight paths will vary either side of the route, within a designated flight corridor. To find out more click here.
 
Noise Preferential Routes, also known as Environmental Corridors, are a type of flight path. Unless directed otherwise by Air Traffic Control, all aircraft taking off from Dublin Airport are required to follow specific flight paths called Noise Preferential Routes (NPRs). To minimise disruption, NPRs are designed to avoid overflight of built-up areas, where possible, minimising disturbance in neighbouring communities. 
 
NPRs are paths or corridors (1.8km at their widest points) that aircraft follow from take-off until being directed by ATC onto their main air traffic routes, typically at 3,000 feet altitude above mean sea level. Aircraft aim to travel in the middle of this corridor allowing 900m of space on either side of the aircraft. However, the precise path followed within the corridor may vary depending on factors including navigational equipment, the type and weight of aircraft and weather conditions (particularly winds that may cause drifting). Aircraft flying inside this corridor are considered to be flying on-track.
 
There may be occasions when Air Traffic Control (ATC) may be required to route an aircraft outside these environmental corridors, for safety reasons e.g. to avoid weather conditions. 
 

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Once an aircraft reaches the end of the Noise Preferential Route (NPR), normally at an altitude of 3,000 feet, a controller will turn it onto a more direct path towards its destination. Air Traffic Control can turn aircraft off NPRs below 3,000 feet for safety reasons, for example to avoid storms.

The existing flight paths follow a straight line from the end of the runway for both arrivals and departures. To find out more click here.

 

For most aircraft operating from Dublin Airport, departures from all runways (except easterly departures on the existing southern runway) must maintain course straight out for five nautical miles (1 nautical mile = 1,852 metres) after take-off before commencing a turn, unless otherwise cleared by Air Traffic Control. Easterly departures on the existing southern runway must maintain course straight out for five nautical miles before commencing a turn to the north, or to six nautical miles before commencing turn to the south.

Note: Turboprop aircraft are generally turned earlier for reasons of efficiency.

Bickerdike Allen Partners LLP (BAP) has produced the future noise contours.  BAP is an integrated practice of architects, acousticians, and construction technologists with expertise in planning and noise, the control of noise vibration and the sound insulation and acoustic treatment of buildings. They have worked on similar projects with numerous airports across the UK and Europe, including Manchester, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City, Lisbon and Malpensa Milan.
Aircraft are now quieter than previously anticipated, and this is also a factor that was considered when new contours were drawn up. Larger aircraft help to reduce the number of movements as they can carry more passengers. Noise contours are developed on the basis of our expectations of future types of aircraft that will be used at the airport.

Noise mapping and oversight involves multiple parties of which daa - which is designated as the noise mapping body for airports – is just one.  Responsibilities in this area include:

  • Local Authorities are responsible for producing Noise Action Plans.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency has overall oversight of the noise mapping and planning process and is responsible for reporting the results to the EU every five years.   
  • Fingal County Council, the appointed Competent Authority, is charged with independently assessing noise contours and ensuring that required noise controls/restrictions at airports are appropriate and in line with the Balanced Approach.

In June 2016 Directive 2002/30/EC was repealed and replaced by Regulation 598/2014. Regulation 598/2014 establishes the rules and procedures for the introduction of noise related operating restrictions (if required) using the Balanced Approach.  

The new Regulation reinforces the requirement for airports and competent authorities to apply the Balanced Approach when considering the introduction of noise related operating restrictions at airports. Such operating restrictions should only be introduced if the noise abatement objective of the airport cannot be met through the other Balanced Approach measures (Reduction at source, Land-use Planning and Operating Procedures). The Regulations also introduce a more stringent definition for 'marginally complaint' Chapter 3 aircraft. 

EU Regulation 598 was transposed into Irish law through the enactment of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, which was signed by President Higgins in May 2019. Under this new legislation, Fingal County Council has been appointed as the Competent Authority.

Environment and Health

The Environmental Impact Statement and planning appeals process undertaken in advance of the grant of permission was independent and very extensive. It concluded that the mitigation measures proposed by daa or applied by the planning authorities would ensure that any environmental impact would be minimised. We are committed to ensuring that this is the case for both the construction and operation of the runway.
 
 
 
The Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 states that where any proposals to amend noise related operating restrictions are made to the Competent Authority this must be done through the statutory planning process. This means that any application must be accompanied by Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Appropriate Assessment as required.
 

Dublin Airport is always striving to minimise the negative impacts on the environment associated with its operations and its evolving growth. Since 2009, the airport has actively participated in the voluntary Airport Carbon Accreditation Scheme and has consistently achieved reductions in carbon emissions since entering the programme.  The airport is now aiming to achieve carbon neutral status by 2020 under the scheme. 

Dublin Airport manages and reduces its own direct emissions in line with its obligations under the various national and EU energy efficiency and carbon regulations. 

However, due to the international dimension of aviation, the control of international aircraft emissions is at supra national level.  Aircraft emissions from flights between countries within EU/EEA (European Economic Area) area are included within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme which is one of the parcel of measures identified by EU to achieve a 20% reduction in CO2 by 2020 and a 40% reduction by 2030. 

In recognition of the need to help manage the growth in international aircraft emissions, agreement on a global Carbon Off-Setting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) was reached in ICAO on 6 October 2016. Ireland, as part of the 44 member states of the European Civil Aviation Conference, has made a declaration to adhere to the international scheme from its first implementation phase from 2021. 

The off-setting scheme proposed by ICAO will enable carbon neutral growth from 2020 and as such will result in airlines paying to off-set their additional carbon emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. This means that airlines can grow but the additional carbon emissions will be off-set and paid for by the airlines. daa fully supports the adoption of such a scheme.

This CORSIA scheme is one of the measures supported by the international aviation industry to address the climate change challenges. Since 2009, the aviation sector has had a common set of ambitious and robust targets to mitigate CO2 emissions from air transport:

  • An average improvement in fuel efficiency of 1.5% per year from 2009 to 2020;   
  • A cap on net aviation CO2 emissions from 2020 (carbon-neutral growth) 
  • A reduction in net aviation CO2 emissions of 50% by 2050, relative to 2005 levels.
The industry has been taking impressive collaborative efforts to meet these goals, with representatives from airlines, airports, air traffic management and the manufacturing sector all taking part in the process. 

In March 2017 ICAO also adopted a new aircraft CO2 emissions standard which will reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate. The standard will apply to all new aircraft type designs from 2020 and to aircraft type designs already in-production as of 2023. Those in-production aircraft that do not meet the standard by 2028 will no longer be able to be produced unless their designs are sufficiently modified.

www.iata.org

www.icao.int
  
daa takes its responsibilities to climate change seriously and has committed to managing its own carbon emissions, in line with all relevant public sector requirements. We will also continue to influence others to manage their emissions.

 

Dublin Airport has more than 1,600 local, urban, national bus and coach movements per day and is the country’s largest bus station. A Mobility Management Plan for the airport is in place which specifies how we address staff and passenger access to the airport and sets out measures to increase use of sustainable transport modes. The airport is fully supportive of the introduction of a metro system for the airport. 

We are committed to converting to Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) technology wherever possible and Dublin Airport is actively seeking to encourage other operators on site to do the same. Clear targets have been identified in order to fulfil our ambitions to become a national leader in LEV usage.
 
While Dublin Airport is not directly responsible for the control of third party emissions such as those from surface transport access or energy used in tenant buildings, we do try to influence these emissions at the airport by working with the airport stakeholders.
 
Dublin Airport is aiming to convert to Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) technology wherever possible and has a number of targets which it hopes to deliver:
 
  • By 2020 the use of LEVs will be specified in procurement processes for daa service providers who operate vehicle fleets
  • By 2022 Dublin Airport will convert its bus operations to a LEV fleet
  • By 2022 the use of LEVs will be mandated for airside operatoorsBy 2023 Dublin Airport will convert to a LEV fleet
  • By 2024, daa will install Fixed Electrical Ground power to replace diesel generators on all contact stands
There is an Air Quality Monitoring Programme in place at Dublin Airport and in surrounding areas. Data is collected at a stationary onsite monitoring station and through eleven passive diffusion tube sampling stations located in the surrounding areas.  Data collected includes nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter. Results have been consistently below threshold limits set by EU regulations. daa publishes air quality monitoring results annually and results are also shared with local communities. To find out more click here. 
 

Fuel dumping rarely occurs at Dublin Airport, and only takes place in emergencies, under the strict control of the Air Navigation Service Provider (IAA-ANSP).

 

Mitigation Measures

The EU Directive 598/2014 has endorsed the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) concept of a Balanced Approach to aircraft noise management. The National Aviation Policy (NAP) for Ireland, published in 2015, states that Ireland will implement a Balanced Approach to noise management at Irish Airports and Dublin Airport is abiding by this policy. The approach incorporates four key elements to the mitigation of noise levels at airports:

  • Reduction of Noise at Source – Quieter Aircraft
  • Land-use planning
  • Noise Abatement Operational Procedures
  • Operating restrictions

Reduction of Noise at Source - Quieter Aircraft 

  • Modern aircraft are quieter than their predecessors and this has been mainly achieved by technological developments in aircraft design. Noise standards are developed by ICAO and enforced throughout the EU. The ICAO noise chapter certification defines the specific noise performance criteria which aircraft must achieve. Chapter 2 aircraft have been banned from operating within the EU since 2002. The vast majority of aircraft operating in the skies above the EU are now Chapter 4 with an increasing number of Chapter 14 aircraft entering the fleet as airlines take delivery of newer aircraft.  
  • At Dublin Airport, we are fortunate to have a large proportion of aircraft that meet the most stringent noise classes (Chapter 4 and 14). In 2018, over 90% of aircraft operating here were the quietest models.

Land-use planning

  • Land Use Planning and management requires working with our local authority, Fingal County Council, to safeguard land use in the vicinity of the airport and to limit impact on local and future communities. 
  • A new runway has been incorporated in successive County Development plans since the 1970s and Dublin Airport has benefitted from that far-sighted planning process that has kept the approaches to the runways largely clear of development and limited noise exposure. This is achieved by reference to the noise and public safety zones established during statutory planning processes. Fingal County Council's County Development plan 2017-2023 defines 'inner' and 'outer' noise zones. The inner zone limits new residential development and other noise-sensitive areas. The outer zone controls inappropriate development and requires noise insulation where appropriate. 
  • The new runway is being constructed on the airport’s own land bank and unlike many other international airports, we have very few people living under our flight paths which means that land-use planning has been effective to date. 

Noise Abatement Operational Procedures

At Dublin Airport we have worked closely with the IAA on noise abatement procedures to minimise the effects of aircraft noise on local communities which include:  

  1. Environmental corridors where aircraft adhere strictly to flight paths 
  2. Continuous descent procedures for arriving aircraft 
  3. Noise abatement and take off climb procedures for departing aircraft 
  4. Restricted reverse thrust for aircraft 
  5. Designated times and location on the airfield for engine test run ups
  6. Preferential runway usage 

Operating restrictions 

A fundamental requirement of the Balanced Approach is that when determining the most appropriate combination of noise mitigation measures for a given airport, operating restrictions should only be introduced after consideration of the other three elements.  The Balanced Approach recognises that noise challenges are unique to each airport and a tailored approach needs to be adopted. There are currently no operating restrictions in place at Dublin Airport.

Under Conditions 6 and 7 of the planning permission associated with North Runway, daa has developed voluntary noise insulation schemes for schools and residential dwellings located in the 60dB and 63dB contours, respectively. All eligible schools and residential dwelling owners have been contacted regarding the schemes. daa is also offering a Voluntary Dwelling Purchase Scheme to eligible residents, who have also been contacted. 
  • Dwellings which fall within the predicted 69dB LAeq 16hr day contour are currently eligible for the Voluntary Dwelling Purchase Scheme.
  • Dwellings which fall within the 63dB LAeq 16hr day contour are currently eligible for the Voluntary Residential Noise Insulation Scheme.  It should also be noted that daa has extended participation in the scheme to over 40% more houses than required by the grant of permission because we have regard to the 63dB LAeq, 16hr day noise contours submitted to An Bord Pleanala in 2007 rather than the current forecasts which would encompass a much smaller area. 
  • Schools which fall within the 60dB LAeq, 8hr day contour are eligible for the voluntary Schools Insulation Scheme.
daa has undertaken an extensive engagement programme in relation to both the Voluntary Residential Noise Insulation and Voluntary Dwelling Purchase Schemes. All eligible residents have been contacted directly. 

There is no requirement for Compulsory Purchase Orders to facilitate the construction of North Runway. The new runway is being constructed on the airport's own land bank. 

 
The mitigation measures offered to eligible residents in Dublin surpass those being considered in many other locations. At many airports, residents are merely offered a grant for partial insulation costs, which they then have to source and install. In contrast, daa is surveying properties, stipulating a package of complete works, and taking responsibility for the entire installation and quality control process. While this is a costlier approach, it will provide a long-term, effective solution for affected residents.   

A package comprising of some or all of the following measures will be available as part of the scheme: double or secondary glazing for all windows and external doors, attic insulation comprising of layers of insulation, and acoustic solutions for vents and chimneys. 

It should be noted that under Condition 7 of the 2007 planning permission a review will take place every two years which will include the updating of the 63dB contour to determine if any additional dwellings become eligible to avail of the scheme. 
 

Airport and Runway Operation 

Option 7B is a preferred runway concept, which was agreed as part of the 2007 runway planning permission to lessen the impact of aircraft noise on local communities.

Mode of operation 7B provides that:

  • the parallel runways - 10R-28L (existing main runway) and 10L-28R (North Runway) - shall be used in preference to the cross runway, 16-34;
  • In westerly operations, when winds are westerly, approximately 70% of the time, Runway 28L shall be preferred for arriving aircraft; either Runway 28L or 28R shall be used for departing aircraft as determined by air traffic control.
  • In easterly operations, when winds are easterly, approximately 30% of the time, either Runway 10L or 10R as determined by air traffic control shall be preferred for arriving aircraft. Runway 10R shall be preferred for departing aircraft.

Most of the time the two runways at Dublin Airport will be operated in segregated mode, i.e. one runway for all arrivals, the other for all departures.  However, there will be occasions during peak hours when runways will need to operate in mixed mode, i.e. both runways used simultaneously for arrivals and departures. For safety and aircraft separation reasons, international standards for mixed mode operations require that aircraft courses diverge by at least 15°, approximately one nautical mile after take-off.

During the 2016 daa Consultation on Flight Paths and Change to Permitted Operations, feedback was received from the public which indicated that there is a preference for the scenario which involves: 'Straight out on south runway; split divergence of 15° and 75° on departures for North Runway depending on ultimate destination of the aircraft'. This preferred option has been shared with the IAA-ANSP (Air Navigation Service Provider), which has overall responsibility for airspace design. 

Before any proposed flight path procedure and/or mode of operation can be finalised and implemented for North Runway, a comprehensive safety case and assessment will have to be completed by the IAA-ANSP which will occur before the opening of North Runway. More information on the outcome of our Public Consultations can be found here.

Efforts to enhance runway capacity have been ongoing at Dublin Airport for many years. The Runway Process Improvement Group, comprising of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), based-airlines and Dublin Airport Operations, has a remit to increase runway capacity at Dublin Airport.

Specialist consultancy and analysis is undertaken by NATS Analytics, which conducted a detailed capacity assessment in 2013. This has formed the basis of a multi-year work programme to incrementally increase runway capacity.

As a result of the work of the Runway Process Improvement Group and NATS Analytics, Dublin Airport was able to accommodate 35 departures in the peak hour of the morning in time for summer 2016 (two years earlier than planned). A similar number of departures were accommodated in the peak hour in summer 2017. This was achieved by reducing separation between successive departures and the implementation of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM). These efforts also involved negotiating with the UK's en-route Air Navigation Service Provide (ANSP) in relation to reduced in-flight separation trails when entering UK airspace.  It is anticipated that the maximum number of departing aircraft that could be achieved in the peak morning hour, given the need to allow runway time for aircraft arriving, is 39. 

However, capacity in the peak hours is constrained, i.e. demand outstrips capacity which it is critically important that we deliver the new North Runway.
 
The passenger numbers that can be accommodated at a single runway airport is significantly impacted by a range of factors including:
  • The size of aircraft using the airport: Gatwick has bigger aircraft using its airport than at Dublin (on average 154 passengers per aircraft versus 130 at Dublin); therefore, its runway accommodates more passengers when compared to Dublin.
  • Operational procedures adopted by the aviation authorities: Gatwick has more permitted departures per hour and its air traffic controllers adopt different procedures in the air.  Aircraft depart from Gatwick on diverging routes after take-off, allowing them a minimum interval of 60 seconds between successive departures.  This is not the case at Dublin; aircraft follow the same route after take-off, which requires a minimum of c. 80 seconds between successive departures.
  • Dublin Airport is continually working to ensure we maximise runway capacity whilst maintaining safety at all times.  
As a commercial semi-state company, daa is required to ensure that its capital appraisal and management processes are consistent with the Department of Finance guidelines in this area. North Runway, in common with other developments by daa, is funded without any recourse to the public purse.