Airport Growth Furthers Case for New Runway and Metro North

The strong growth in passenger numbers at Dublin Airport is further proof of the need for a new second runway and yet another signal to Government that it must bring forward the construction of Metro North, according to Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Dublin Chamber issued the call following the release of new figures from ACI Europe which shows that Dublin Airport was the fastest growing major airport in Europe in the first six months of 2016.

According to Aebhric McGibney, Director of Public and International Affairs at Dublin Chamber: “Growth levels at Dublin Airport continue to surprise on the upside. The challenge now is to ensure that Dublin Airport is equipped for further growth in the coming years. Dublin Airport’s reaction to faster-than-expected growth has been to prioritise the construction of a much-needed new second runway. The Minister for Transport must now show the same sense of ambition to ensure that the Metro North link between Dublin City Centre, Dublin Airport and the rapidly expanding north County Dublin area is built much quicker than the previously mooted target of 2027.”

Dublin Chamber said that the sharp increase in passenger numbers at Dublin Airport is evidence of growth in the wider economy.

McGibney added: “Dublin Airport is a vital piece of national infrastructure, with four out of every five visitors who arrive to Ireland by air coming through it. A new rail link is needed not only to serve Dublin Airport, but also to cater for the additional 40,000 plus people who will be commuting into Dublin city centre from north county Dublin by 2023. At the same time, passenger numbers through Dublin Airport are expected to exceed 36 million by 2022, up from 25 million last year. A new rail link will go a long way to accommodating such strong growth levels.”