Opportunity now exists to disrupt unbalanced pre-Covid aviation traffic

Last year, Dublin Airport gained 96% of all new passengers 

Dr Catriona Cahill said there is a risk that airlines will focus on capital airports and this will have serious implications for regional airports. Picture: Eamon Ward

Pre-Covid growth patterns at Irish airports cannot be repeated on the road to recovery if we are to address regional imbalance the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks has heard.

Limerick Chamber's Chief Economist, Dr Catriona Cahill said that the announcement on Tuesday of an additional support package worth €50 million to support the aviation sector was welcome in the short-term, but a long-term view needs to be taken that ensures the crisis does not exacerbate existing inequalities or imbalances.