Irish pilots have welcomed the plan for a new runway at Dublin Airport, saying that a track of just 45 metres in width, the standard of the 20th century, is insufficient to cope with aircraft already planned for the future.
The new runway will replace the short Runway 11/29 and will be located about one mile north of and parallel to the existing runway 10/28. It will be 3,110 metres long and 60 metres wide.
In a statement following the Dublin Airport Authority's announcement that it will seek planning permission for the €130 million runway before the end of the year, the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) said: "With in excess of 120 A380s [aircraft] on order, this airplane is set to become the carrier of choice of the world's long haul air service providers, and the work-horse of the Europe-Australasia routes.
"With many of those aircraft in cargo configuration it will also be the aircraft of choice of the leading freight airlines, and the ability to facilitate these "super-jumbos" will determine the levels of service Ireland will enjoy long into the future."
Captain Evan Cullen, president of IALPA said the planning for this runway began 30 years ago, long before anybody had dreamed of aircraft as large as the A380.
"Aircraft such as the A380 are set to become the standard in long-haul air transport, and it is vital that Ireland is able to compete in the market to attract business and tourism directly to the island, rather than through a UK or European hub," he said.
The A380 will carry more passengers further allowing for growing passenger numbers and helping to ease an increasingly congested environment, IALPA said.
However, when questioned on planning for bigger aircraft this morning, the DDA director Mr Robert Hilliard said the airport was not expecting to deal with the larger aircraft currently being planned.
He said he did not believe there would be a demand for the biggest types of aircraft now being designed because Dublin was mainly a short-haul airport. The plan would, however, ensure the runway could handle the larger craft.
Fine Gael's deputy transport spokesman Mr Pat Breen said the new runway makes sense, but only if the Government approves the new terminal at Dublin airport.
"There is no point proceeding with a new runway until the Government approves a new terminal in order to deal with the increased passenger numbers this would bring," he said.
"Current passenger facilities at Dublin are woefully inadequate, and the airport is chronically under-resourced in terms of the current terminal. Yet this Government has done almost nothing to rectify the situation, in spite of seeking expressions of interest from private bodies.
"Dublin Airport Authority must ensure that the Government does not speak out of both sides of its mouth on this issue. When it comes to Dublin Airport, this Government has a chronic record of failing to live up to its promises."
"Perhaps Dublin Airport Authority realises that the only way to get a second terminal from the Government is to leave it with no alternative but to act. If the Government fails to decide on a second terminal we could be left with the embarrassing scenario of being able to land millions of extra passengers, but not allow them to embark or disembark at Dublin Airport."
The Progressive Democrats transport spokesman Senator Tom Morrissey also welcomed the plan, saying it showed a "renewed energy and vigour" among airport management and a realistic attempt to grapple with the serious congestion problems facing Dublin Airport.
"The construction of a new runway, however, is only a short-to-medium [term] solution to the problem of congestion, and the contentious issue of a second terminal for the airport will need to be tackled by the Minister for Transport sooner rather than later."