New Dublin Airport viewing area cleared for take off

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 (10R/28L) and the cross-wind runway (16/34) 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.”

The new viewing facility is just one of a number of initiatives being undertaken by daa to give back to the communities closest to Dublin Airport.

These include the launch earlier this week of the new €2 million Elevate ’25 School Support Programme, which is offering €2 million in funding to eligible local primary and secondary schools in North Dublin and East Meath for a wide range of projects, including environmental and sustainability initiatives, educational supports, sports and recreation facilities, and health, wellbeing, and social inclusion projects.

Elevate has been launched to coincide with Dublin Airport’s 85th anniversary celebrations.

daa also recently gifted an eight-hectare compensatory habitat at Kilsallaghan in North County Dublin to Fingal County Council for the nominal cost of €10.

This land, which daa had previously purchased at market value, is a meticulously developed area designed to support a variety of native flora and fauna, providing a sanctuary for wildlife.

While the compensatory landscape is effectively a “rewilded” area with restricted access to the general public, Fingal County Council will provide managed and supervised access to the site by arrangement, mainly for educational purposes.