The Minister for Transport has said he is “paying close attention” to staffing issues with air traffic controllers that have led to intermittent runway closures at Dublin and Cork airports.
AirNav Ireland, which manages Irish air traffic control, reported that operations at Cork Airport were restricted between midnight and 7am on 11 February due to short-notice sick leave, causing delays and diversions of some flights. The company said the temporary restrictions were necessary “to ensure safety was fully maintained.”
Dublin Airport has also experienced disruptions over recent weeks, including two closures on Friday night at 2am and 4am, each lasting 30 minutes. Daa, the operator of both Dublin and Cork airports, confirmed that departures and arrivals have been affected intermittently.
Speaking to RTÉ News, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said the government’s primary focus is on “ensuring the smooth operation of our airports and minimising disruption to passengers.” He stressed that the safe operation of Irish airspace remains the priority and confirmed that AirNav Ireland is actively engaging with the Fórsa union on staffing issues through the company’s Internal Dispute Resolution Board. O’Brien added it would be inappropriate to comment further while discussions are ongoing.
AirNav Ireland said it had been informed that Fórsa agreed to proposals presented to both parties at a meeting on Friday, and further talks are expected next week. Fórsa confirmed it is working toward a negotiated solution and highlighted a global shortage of air traffic controllers, which has created capacity challenges in Ireland. The union noted that staffing gaps have led to an over-reliance on overtime and that engagement with AirNav will continue under the dispute resolution process.
Eoghan Corry, editor of Travel Extra, warned that low staffing levels across Europe could lead to disruption during the summer travel season. He estimated a 20% shortage of controllers in some regions and said recruitment has not kept pace with demand since the pandemic. “We need graduates to be arriving at air traffic control in much larger numbers,” Corry said, stressing that Irish controllers handle some of the busiest transcontinental routes between Europe and North America.
Corry also highlighted potential disruption in France and Germany, where union activity could coincide with peak holiday periods in July and August. He urged travellers to understand that any strike-related delays would not be their fault and that airlines are obliged to provide assistance in such cases.
As discussions continue between AirNav Ireland and Fórsa, officials and unions are seeking ways to ensure safe and uninterrupted air travel, while authorities monitor staffing levels closely in anticipation of the summer season.
