Pilots operating in the Dublin area will face another series of temporary airspace restrictions next week, as the IAA has published details of a Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) covering much of the Dublin region from Monday 31st August to Wednesday 2nd September 2026. The restrictions have been requested by the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for security reasons and will establish controlled airspace from the surface to 5,000 feet AMSL across a large section of County Dublin and the surrounding area.
The TRA will be active during the following periods:
- Monday 31st August: 0700 to 1900 UTC
- Tuesday 1st September: 0700 to 1900 UTC
- Wednesday 2nd September: 0700 to 2259 UTC
The restricted area encompasses the Dublin CTR and surrounding airspace, extending from the coastline east of Dublin westwards beyond the city and covering a significant portion of the capital’s terminal area. During activation, the airspace will be classified as ICAO Class C.
Who Can Fly?
The IAA notice states that a number of flights will remain exempt from the restrictions, including:
- State aircraft
- Irish Coast Guard aircraft
- HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) operators on operational missions
- Flights specifically authorised by the controlling authority
- Scheduled commercial traffic operating to and from Dublin Airport, including missed approaches
- Scheduled commercial movements to and from Weston Airport
- Search and Rescue flights
General Aviation Restrictions
The notice explicitly states that all other aircraft operations will not be permitted within the TRA while it is active. In addition, any exemptions or permissions previously granted by the IAA for civil general air traffic will not be valid during the restriction period unless specifically included in the published exemptions.
A NOTAM will be issued by AIS confirming activation of the restriction. Pilots requiring further information regarding access to the restricted area or local operating procedures are advised to contact the controlling authority via the Department of Justice. More details are in the full notice here.
