As published on: https://www.independent.ie/business/dublin-airport-night-time-flight-cuts-could-cost-billions-in-lost-trade-warns-business-group/a195093533.html
Digital Business Ireland claims night-time cap could hit €10bn in trade
The Government needs to act quickly to prevent a “trade shock” if An Bord Pleanála moves ahead with plans to reduce the number of night-time flights that can be operated at Dublin Airport, according to a business lobby group.
Digital Business Ireland, a national association for this digital sector, has claimed such a reduction could cost “billions” of euro in lost trade.
Last September, in a draft decision, the planning appeals board proposed a night-time noise quota for the new runway at Dublin Airport. It also indicated an intention to cap the number of flights permitted to use the airport during that period at 13,000. That would be a 60pc reduction on current levels, and would apply between 11pm and 6.59am.
The DAA, which operates Dublin Airport, had initiated a so-called ‘relevant action’ to change key planning conditions attached to the construction of the runway, which opened in 2022.
It sought to remove a numerical cap on the average number of flights permitted between 11pm and 7am, replacing it with an annual night-time quota, effective between 11.30pm and 6am. Airlines including Ryanair had supported the move.
A move to a night-time quota had been recommended by the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) that operates under Fingal County Council.
After issuing its draft decision in September, An Bord Pleanála accepted submissions on the plan until just before Christmas.
Digital Business Ireland said: “Night-time flights into Dublin Airport carry around €19bn worth of imports and exports every year, representing 12pc of total imports and 6pc of exports. Based on 2024 figures, slashing night-time flights could impact over €10bn worth of Irish exports and imports.”
Last year FTA Ireland, an association of logistics companies, said that freight flown at night accounts for 38pc of the total freight volumes at Dublin Airport, and that nearly two-thirds is transported by express freight operators, primarily those shipping perishable and other time-sensitive goods. That can include food and medicine, for instance.
Dublin Airport is challenging planning restrictions on a number of fronts. It’s also trying to have a 32 million annual passenger cap removed or raised.
DP Fitzgerald, a spokesperson for Digital Business Ireland, pointed out that Ireland is an island economy. “We saw the damaging short-term impact of weather damage to Holyhead Port, but Ireland could be about to sleep-walk into a longer-lasting and man-made crisis,” he said.
“If the number of cargo flights at the island’s main airport is slashed, there will be massive disruption to deliveries and trade, leading to significant frustration for Irish consumers and substantial losses for Irish business.”
He claimed the cap is already having an impact on businesses and that any additional measure to cut the night-time transport of goods in and out of Dublin Airport would “deliver a severe hammer blow” to Ireland’s e-commerce trade.
In 2023, Fingal County Council issued an enforcement notice against the DAA for breaching its night-time flight quota. That action was stayed, pending the outcome of the relevant action.
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