Dublin Airport permitted to increase nighttime flights

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Dublin Airport has been allowed to increase the number of nighttime flights, with some subjected to noise limits.

Irish planning body An Coimisiun Pleanala has granted permission to increase flights landing and taking off at night at the airport.

Previous planning permission had allowed 65 flights a night between 11pm and 7am.

“The commission agreed with the inspectors’ revised calculations and concluded that an annual cap of 35,672 nighttime aircraft movements would be appropriate,” it said in a decision published on Thursday.

Decision on the proposed development comprising the taking of a relevant action only within the meaning of Section 34C of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, which relates to the night-time use of the runway system at Dublin Airport https://t.co/AEoNl8IReT

— An Coimisiún Pleanála (@pleanala) July 17, 2025

This increases the cap to 98 flights a night, subject to certain noise-level restrictions.

The quota will be in place for 12 months from April 1st.

A ban on flights at the north runway between 11pm and 7am has been reduced to between midnight and 6am, except in exceptional circumstances such as emergencies, adverse weather, or technical faults in air traffic control systems.

Aircraft that breach the noise quota will not be permitted to take off, the planning body said.

It said its decision will ensure both the number and the noise level of nighttime flights are “effectively managed”.