A pressure group in North Dublin has lodged a judicial review in the High Court against An Coimisiún Pleanála’s approval of Dublin Airport’s night flight expansion.
An Coimisiún Pleanála permitted the north runway to operate from 6am to midnight, replacing a 65-flight nightly cap with an annual limit of 35,672 movements.
The group argues the expansion, approved in summer 2025, will harm residents’ health through sleep disturbance and chronic noise exposure. A protest is planned for tomorrow at Dublin Airport’s main roundabout to support the International Day to Ban Night Flights.
Ryanair also seeks a judicial review to remove night flight restrictions, claiming they limit transatlantic traffic.
The group shared: “This legal challenge is being taken to continue opposing the expansion of night-time operations at the airport. When planning permission was granted for Dublin Airport’s north runway in 2007, it was on the clear condition that night flights would be restricted. This safeguard was to protect the health and well-being of surrounding communities.” The recent decision to allow more than 35,000 flights each year at night abandons that principle. It will cause serious harm to thousands of residents through sleep disturbance and long-term health impacts linked to chronic aircraft noise exposure.”
