Runway success

First planes take off from Dublin Airport's new €320million strip

- DANNY DE VAAL

THE long-awaited opening of Dublin Airport’s €320million North Runway took off yesterday.

The first flight to use it was Ryanair flight FR1964 heading towards Eindhoven in the Netherlands which departed at around 12.10 pm.

Veteran captain John McCarthy who was in charge of the aircraft recalled taking off from the existing South Runway when on the day it opened more than 30 years ago.

Before departing, he said: “It had served our nation well. But here in front of me is the future.

“It is a magnificent vista, a wonderful piece of engineering, and now a major part of our national infrastructure.

 

“It is a credit to all involved who made it happen. And with that Ryanair 1964 is cleared for take-off.”