A €15m upgrade of the runway at Shannon Airport - the longest runway in Ireland – is due to get under way.
The upgrade will see major renovation work being carried out overnight for the next six months.
Work on the 3,199 metre long runway will include rehabilitation of the runway surface, the replacement of runway lighting with more energy efficient LED lighting, and the replacement of runway edges along with other associated works.
A full resurfacing of 2,400m of the runway is now required.
It is only the second major refurbishment of the runway since it was built in 1961.
A full overhaul was undertaken in 1983, with regular maintenance in the intervening years.
It is estimated that the works will take 26 weeks to complete.
Start times will be staggered each evening from Tuesday to Saturday, but will be completed by 6am each morning to facilitate the influx of early morning transatlantic and European flights.
Shannon is expected to see a 16% increase in capacity over this year's summer season, with 35 services operating through the airport.
A new transatlantic service begins on 1 July when Norwegian air begins its services between Shannon and Stewart International airport in New York, California and Providence in Rhode Island.
A new Luftansa service has also begun to Frankfurt and a new SAS service to Stockholm will begin in August.
