NEW DUBLIN AIRPORT VIEWING AREA IS CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF!

NEWS LINES………………. NEWS LINES…………….. NEWS LINES……………… NEWS LINES…………….. NEWS LINES…………………

DUBLIN Airport has welcomed the decision by Fingal County Council to grant planning permission for its plan to build improved viewing facilities for the public to watch planes take off and land on the airport’s runways.

The approval comes after daa recently provided Fingal County Council with additional information regarding a proposal submitted last year to significantly enhance the site of the current informal airport viewing point on Old Airport Road, locally known as “The Mound”.

When complete, the facility will provide a comfortable, dry and safe space for the community to view aircraft movements, with a clear view of the south runway and the cross-wind runway at Dublin Airport.

The site is fully owned by Dublin Airport and the construction of the free-to-access facility will be paid for by daa as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting and working with the local community.

daa’s proposal will replace the existing muddy grass mound and the adjacent informal parking area with a dedicated car park (which will include spaces for people with reduced mobility and families), bike parking, and an elevated covered platform with seating. The facility will be fully-lit, with power provided by solar panels located on the site.

According to Gary McLean, Managing Director of Dublin Airport: “This news will be cheered by locals, families and aviation enthusiasts all around the Dublin region. The public reaction to our proposal, which we’ll pay for, has been incredibly positive and people really want it. This location has been an informal ‘plane-spotting’ area over the past 40 years and we think it’s time to put a more formal facility in place. It’s a rite of passage for kids in Dublin to be taken to ‘The Mound’ to watch the planes landing and taking off at the airport. This new facility will make it safer and more enjoyable for users and we think it’s a facility that the local community will really enjoy.

“Aircraft observation facilities are a feature of airports around the world, and we want to get on and build this as soon as possible. We look forward to working with the planning authority to deliver this much-wanted public amenity which will be used by locals young and old for decades to come. daa will now begin the process of identifying a contractor to bring our new facility to life and will provide an update on timelines very soon.”