Dublin Airport opened its new runway in a move that is hoped will reduce delays following a summer of long queues and travel disruption across Europe. The first flight from the north runway -- a Ryanair Holdings Plc operated Boeing 737 Max destined for Eindhoven in the Netherlands -- took off at midday on Wednesday. A fuller morning schedule will begin Thursday. Airports and airlines have struggled to cope with post-pandemic demand this year, leading to months of delays and canceled flights. The E320m north runway will cut congestion, add new routes and boost Ireland’s connectivity by almost a third by 2034, according to the airport. It’s expected to add E2.2b to the nation’s economy by 2043. Even so, the development has not been without opposition. Concerns have been raised about the impact of an expanded hub on climate change and measures have been taken to mitigate the noise impact on local residents. Dublin Airport, which is home to IAG SA’s Aer Lingus and one of the main operational bases for Ryanair, has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. “Expansion will go on but in a more sustainable way with technological improvements due to come,” Dublin Airport Authority communications head Kevin Cullinane told broadcaster RTE. The Boeing aircraft used in the inaugural flight is one of a new generation of planes which is up to 40% quieter than previous models and burns less fuel, DAA said. An extra runway has been in the airport’s long-term plans since the 1960s. Planning permission was granted in 2007, though progress was curtailed by the global financial crisis. A decision to move forward was taken in 2016 amid rising passenger numbers.<br/>
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The Palestinian Authority urged Palestinians not to take advantage of concessions promised by Israel that would allow them to travel through Ramon aiport in southern Israel, saying they should have their own airport. Israel’s Airports Authority this month said Palestinians from the occupied West Bank would be offered special flights from Ramon, near the Red Sea resort city of Eilat, to destinations in Turkey. The move followed pressure from the United States to ease some of the strict travel restrictions which prevent Palestinians from using Israeli airports - including Ben Gurion, Israel’s main international hub - without special permission. Palestinians travelling abroad frequently do so through neighbouring Jordan but there are often long delays at the border crossing. “Should the occupation want to ease up for the Palestinians, let them open Jerusalem Airport,” Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said, referring to the now-disused Qalandia airport in the northern part of the occupied West Bank. The airport, seized by Israel after the 1967 war which brought the West Bank area under its control, closed in 2000. Israel’s offer to allow Palestinians to use Ramon for some flights has been heavily criticised by many Palestinian activists who say it does nothing to ease the severe travel restrictions.<br/>
Several cities in southern China raised their cyclone warning signals on Wednesday, bracing for Tropical Storm Ma-on, which is expected to make landfall along the coast of Guangdong province on Thursday. At 12:40 p.m. (0440 GMT), the Hong Kong Observatory issued a strong wind advisory, with speeds up to 62 kph (39 mph) expected. The storm, about 440 km southeast of Hong Kong, will lash the city with heavy rains later Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Hong Kong issued its third-highest typhoon warning on Wednesday evening as the storm trundled closer to the city, with authorities warning people to stay indoors. The ninth cyclone of the season, Ma-on is expected to generate waves of five to eight metres across the northern part of the South China Sea, according to local media. Storm surges are expected to affect several cities in Guangdong province, including Shenzhen, Chaozhou, Huizhou and Yangjiang. Shenzhen airport said it will suspend operations from 3:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, according to a statement from its official weibo account, and the city's railway department suspended some train services between Wednesday and Friday, the local Southern Metropolis Daily reported.<br/>
A teenage pilot has become the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a small aircraft. Mack Rutherford, 17, landed at Sofia in Bulgaria, after a five-month journey across 52 countries. Along the way, Mack, who was born to British parents but has grown up in Belgium, encountered sandstorms in Sudan and spent the night on an uninhabited Pacific island. His elder sister Zara is the youngest woman to fly solo around the world. She completed her own journey in January this year and disclosed that she had "given him advice on the route" as she travelled to Sofia to greet Mack as he returned to the starting point of his trip. The previous record holder for flying solo was British pilot Travis Ludlow, who was 18 years and 150 days old when he completed his journey last year.<br/>