Closing down a runway at Dublin Airport that is used to deal with problem wind conditions could cost airlines and passengers up to €48 million a year, according to an official report. The Commission for Aviation Regulation was asked by the Department of Transport to look at the impact of closing the airport’s “crosswind runway” and whether climate change would have an impact on its use. It also looked at whether climate change was playing a role in prevailing wind conditions at the airport. It said airports in Europe that operated without a crosswind runway had a couple of key advantages when compared to Dublin. Under current arrangements, the crosswind runway comes into operation when “the crosswind component exceeds 20 knots on [the main runways]”.

Source: The Irish Times May 19, 2021 04:40 UTC