EU Commission Halts Dublin Airport Night Flight Cap Over Regulatory Breach

A plan to cap night-time flights at Dublin Airport has been suspended after the European Commission found that Ireland's national planning body failed to comply with European Union aviation noise regulations. The decision challenges a 2025 ruling by An Coimisiún Pleanála (The Planning Commission) and creates significant uncertainty for the airport's operator, airlines, and future growth strategy. The core of the issue rests on the Commission's assessment that the Irish authority did not correctly apply the methodology outlined in Regulation (EU) No 598/2014.

This ruling places the airport's operational capacity in limbo, directly impacting daa plc (daa), the state-owned operator of Dublin and Cork airports. It also affects major carriers such as Ryanair and airlines within the International Airlines Group (IAG), which rely on early morning and late-night arrivals and departures for their hub-and-spoke models and transatlantic connections. The now-disputed cap was intended to manage noise for local communities following the opening of the airport's new North Runway.

Background of the Dispute

The controversy stems from a long-standing planning condition dating back to 2007, which limited night-time flights between 11 pm and 7 am to 65 per night. With the opening of the North Runway on August 24, 2022, and traffic growth, daa sought to amend these restrictions. In July 2025, An Coimisiún Pleanála, Ireland's independent planning authority, issued a decision to allow an average of 98 night-time movements, subject to an overall annual cap of 35,672.

However, the European Commission intervened in February 2026, notifying Irish authorities that this decision was non-compliant with EU law. The Commission found that the planning body did not fully adhere to the 'Balanced Approach' to Aircraft Noise Management. This principle, established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and adopted into EU law, mandates that operating restrictions are a last resort, to be imposed only after a comprehensive assessment of other mitigation measures like land-use planning and quieter operational procedures.

The relevant Irish legislation, the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, transposes the EU regulation into national law and designates the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) as the responsible body. The Commission's finding suggests the process led by An Coimisiún Pleanála did not meet the stringent procedural requirements of this framework.

Operational and Industry Impact

Dublin Airport is a critical piece of national infrastructure, having handled 31.9 million passengers in 2023, just shy of its overall 32 million passenger cap. The inability to utilize its new runway capacity effectively has been a point of contention for both the airport operator and its airline customers.

Kenny Jacobs, CEO of daa, commented on the decision, stating, “Overall this is a good decision for Ireland. North Runway is a critical enabler for the growth of Dublin Airport, which is needed to keep pace with population increases and economic opportunities. We invested hundreds of millions in a second runway to benefit Ireland but have been hamstrung in using it effectively since it opened.”

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary was more critical of the domestic process, noting that the EU Commission acted before the Irish government to identify the planning body's breach of EU law. The situation highlights a growing conflict between local planning decisions and broader national or EU-level regulations, a trend seen at other capacity-constrained European airports.

What Comes Next

The immediate future of night-time operations at Dublin Airport is uncertain. A spokesperson for An Coimisiún Pleanála confirmed that it will "examine the notification from the EU Commission" and "consider whether to reopen the process," as noted in its Statement on ABP-314485-22. This likely means the noise assessment and consultation process must be repeated, this time in strict accordance with the 'Balanced Approach' framework.

This new process will delay a final decision on the airport's long-term operational capacity, potentially for a year or more. During this period, the original, more restrictive cap of 65 flights per night may remain the default condition, constraining growth. Airlines will face continued uncertainty when planning future schedules, particularly for early-wave departures that are crucial for connecting traffic to Europe and North America.

Why This Matters

This decision serves as a significant precedent, reinforcing the supremacy of harmonized EU aviation regulations over national planning decisions. It underscores the immense challenge airports face in balancing vital economic growth and international connectivity against the legitimate noise concerns of local communities. The outcome of the revised process in Dublin will be closely watched by other European airports grappling with similar expansion and environmental constraints.

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