Aviation authority’s profits rise 13% to €16.2m

PROFITS at the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) grew 13% last year to €16.2 million.

The IAA said the rise came from increased traffic passing through Irish airspace. The authority is responsible for Irish air traffic control and also monitors safety standards in the aviation industry.

Turnover at the semi-State company for the year was up 2.6% to €127.7m, as traffic movements through Irish airspace (both at the three State-owned airport and overflights), rose 6% to 280,000.

The bulk of the IAA’s turnover comes from flights over Irish airspace. Turnover here was up from €87.5m to €90m.

The company’s turnover from flights landing and taking off from Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports was up from €13.5m to €17.3m. According to the authority’s annual report for 2005, released yesterday, the company’s employee pension fund has worsened. The pension scheme deficit rose from €107m to €108m.

In the report, chairman Jerry Liston said: “I am confident the future will been seen as an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to providing, on a sound commercial basis, safe, efficient and cost-effective air navigation and regulatory services which meet our customers needs.”