Digital Business Ireland has warned the government about potential trade shocks if An Bord Pleanála enacts a proposal to cut night-time flights at Dublin Airport, which could lead to billions in losses.
A draft decision from September proposed a 60pc reduction in the number of night-time flights from 11pm to 6.59am, limiting the total to 13,000 flights for the new runway that opened in 2022.
Night-time flights are crucial, carrying approximately €19bn worth of goods annually, which includes about €10bn in imports and exports that could be jeopardized by flight reductions, according to 2024 estimates.
The DAA is challenging existing planning conditions, aiming to remove a 32m annual passenger cap while facing enforcement notices from Fingal County Council over breaches related to the night-time flight quota.
DP Fitzgerald of Digital Business Ireland, shared “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. 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.”
