Ireland Avoids $120M Runway Upgrade as US President's Boeing 747-8 Lands

The US President's upcoming visit to Ireland will bring a Boeing 747-8, also known as Bridge Air Force One, to Dublin Airport. This aircraft was donated by the Qatari royal family and has been transformed into an interim Air Force One. Unlike Turkey, which spent $120 million building a runway for this same aircraft on its first international mission, Ireland will not incur any costs for airport upgrades.

Dublin Airport's North Runway, measuring approximately 3,110 meters in length, was completed in August 2022 as part of a €320 million (around $370 million) project. The runway and associated facilities were built to accommodate Code F aircraft with wingspans between 65 and 80 meters, including the Boeing 747-8.

The engineering involved in the North Runway is substantial, with four separate layers of rigid concrete pavement designed to support the weight of fully loaded aircraft. The original 11/29 runway was also demolished and removed as part of the wider project.

The cost of the visit is expected to come from the security operation, with estimates ranging from €10 million to over €20 million ($23 million). The number of personnel involved is estimated at around 4,000, which would be substantially higher than the €11.3 million spent on security overtime during President Biden's previous visit in June 2019.