Flights at 3 main airports down by as much as 36%

FLIGHTS through the country’s three main airports have fallen by as much as 36% since they reached their peak at the height of the boom, figures from the Irish Aviation Authority show.

There were almost 200,000 “commercial terminal” flights through Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports in 2011, 27.5% less than those recorded when the figures peaked in 2008. However, on a more positive note, the figure was actually marginally up compared to 2010.

The IAA figures show:

* Dublin recorded 154,457 commercial terminal flights in 2011, an increase of 0.9% on 2010 but 23% less than that recorded in 2008.

* Shannon recorded 19,275 commercial terminal flights in 2011, up 2.7% on 2010 but a 42% drop on 2008 levels.

* Cork recorded 22,173 commercial terminal flights in 2011, down 6.2% on 2010, but 36% down on 2008 levels.

In total, when flights landing or taking off from the three airports are added to those flying through Irish airspace en-route to another destination, there were 522,959 flights through Irish airspace in 2011, 13% less than the 2008 peak.

That figure is on a par with pre-2005 volumes. Nonetheless, it is actually a 2% increase on the 513,236 flights in 2010.

There were 300,408 en-route flights passing over Irish space in 2011, up 2.6% on 2010 but down 3.1% on 2008 peak figures.

In comparing traffic volumes for 2011 with those of 2010, the IAA carried out an assessment of the impact of the ash cloud crisis on traffic in 2010. In summary, this found that the difference in traffic volumes between 2011 and 2010 was flat with the exception of Cork Airport, where the volumes were down.

IAA chief executive Eamonn Brennan said a reduction in traffic volumes was very disappointing but was not unexpected in the context of the global economic crises.

He said the authority would continue to support the airline industry.