Aer Lingus objects to new DUB runway
The Irish Indo reports this morning that EI is objecting to a new €100m runway at DUB (parallel to the current 10/28), citing the high cost of the project.
There seems to be some confusion about the Aer Rianta plans, because the report also quotes a Michael O'Leary plan to extend the shorter runway and I'm not sure if he's talking about 16/34 or 10/28 (I suspect the former). However, Aer Rianta is said to be talking about plans to extend a runway, to be completed by 2009; if (as I suspect), this refers to 10/28, AR needs a right clip around the ear!
The current length of 10/28 has long been believed to have been influenced by a desire to minimise the prospects for long haul flights (particularly t/a, due to the stopover) from DUB. Whether this is true or not, I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, if DUB is to expand its long haul network - and particularly if a competing terminal is to be built at DUB, this runway will need to be lengthened.
Can EI/FR pilots throw light on this issue; can/should the existing 10/28 be extended a lot sooner? Surely a parallel runway is needed if the airport continues to grow, as 28/34 can't be used together. Does IALPA have a view?