Passengers grounded over air traffic row

AT LEAST nine planeloads of passengers faced delays at Cork Airport this morning because an air traffic controller due to work last night could not get to Cork in time to renew her regional licence as she was working her shifts at Dublin Airport.

In what is being seen as another element of the air traffic controllers’ dispute with the Irish Aviation Authority over lack of numbers, the airport yesterday issued a statement saying there would be no flights between midnight last night and 8am today.

It said any passengers due to fly on the nine services as well as the freight services between those times should contact their airline for further information.