The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has confirmed that air traffic grew by 7.5 per cent in January compared to the same month last year, and North Atlantic Communications flights (Europe/US) saw an increase of 8.5 per cent in January.
"We are delighted to see air traffic in 2017 getting off to a strong start, building on the very encouraging gains of last year. Up to 90 per cent of transatlantic air traffic passes through Irish-controlled airspace, so I am particularly pleased with the strong growth in our en-route traffic. On the domestic front, terminal air traffic at Dublin and Shannon continues to increase strongly with growth of 4.3 per cent and 5.6 per cent recorded respectively in January," said Eamonn Brennan, chief executive of the IAA.
Despite the success, Brennan voiced concerns regarding Brexit in the future, saying: "Brexit does offer some opportunities to Ireland, such as increasing the attractiveness to transit through Ireland to North America rather than the UK and our airports will be seeking to capitalise on that but in broader terms a hard Brexit will be difficult for the Irish civil aviation industry."
Meanwhile, In Waterford, the airport's chief executive has said the airport has had "detailed discussions with a number of operators" about adding a new route to the UK in 2017, with Minister for Transport Shane Ross commenting that he was "very optimistic" the airport would secure another commercial operator, reports fora.ie.
