Ryanair and Aer Lingus join challenge to Fingal County Council notice restricting night-time flights

Ryanair and Aer Lingus will participate in a High Court challenge to a notice directing the operator of Dublin Airport to restrict night-time flights to a maximum of 65 per night. Last August the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) secured a court order pausing the effect of Fingal County Council’s enforcement notice, which was issued on grounds that the number of flights scheduled by the airport exceeds the terms of a planning condition regarding runway operations between 11pm and 7am. In seeking the order the airport operator warned it could be forced to cancel thousands of flights. On Monday the court heard the council stands over the validity of its enforcement notice, which was issued in August following a four-month investigation. However, it has not sought to lift the High Court’s stay on its effects. The order remains in place while the dispute over its legitimacy is ongoing.<br/>