Dublin Airport opened its second runway on Wednesday with a single Ryanair flight to Eindhoven taking off at midday.
The €320-million North Runway came into operation 15 years after being granted planning permission although the inaugural Ryanair flight was the only one to operate today.
The runway runs parallel to Dublin Airport’s existing runway and is 1.9 miles long – extensive enough to accommodate the largest long-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.
Airport operator DAA claimed the project was delivered “on schedule and on budget” and said the expansion would support the creation of more than 31,000 jobs.
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A second runway has been part of Dublin Airport’s long-term strategic planning since the 1960s and it fits with the Irish government’s National Aviation Policy which foresees Dublin developing as an international hub between Europe and North America.
The project first received planning permission in 2007 but was delayed due to the financial crash and ensuring recession of 2008-09.
Construction finally began in December 2016, but the project then faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The North Runway will operate daily between 6am and midnight despite opposition from local residents following an amendment to planning permission in 2020.
This allowed a limited extension of runway use in late-evening and early-morning busy periods and replaced a night-time cap on aircraft movement with a noise management quota system that encourages use of quieter aircraft.
Up to 300 householders are to receive grants from the DAA to insulate their homes against noise.
Irish transport minister Hildegarde Naughton said: “The new North Runway will provide much-needed capacity and enable Dublin Airport to re-build and enhance connectivity to our island.
“The runway is a crucial piece of infrastructure which will enable Dublin Airport to expand.”
DAA chief executive Dalton Philips hailed the opening as a “once-in-a-generation piece of vital national infrastructure positioning Ireland for economic growth for decades to come”.
Basil Geoghegan, DAA chairman, added: “It underpins our position as a leading European airport and a key gateway to North America.
“Following on from the North Runway development, we will progress at pace our planned capital investment programme in a refurbished terminal, new piers, gates, stands and transfer facilities.”
Dublin Airport suffered serious disruption earlier this summer with lengthy queues at security screening. But the airport reported “a significant improvement” in queue times in mid-August.
It is now advising passengers should arrive two hours in advance for a short-haul flight with cabin baggage only, and three hours for long haul.
Passengers checking in a bag should allow additional time of up to an hour.