Irish Transport Minister launches new National Aviation Policy

Ireland's Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe launched (20-Aug-2015) a new "National Aviation Policy", which includes the following highlights:

• The maintenance of aviation safety as the number one priority;
• An increase in connectivity, especially with emerging markets;
• The achievement of a high level of competition between airlines operating in the Irish market;
• The retention of Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports in State ownership;
• The promotion of Dublin Airport as a secondary hub, with the necessary infrastructure to meet projected traffic growth, and supporting the roles of Cork and Shannon airports as tourism and business gateways in their respective regions;
• Support the regional airports in line with the recently EU approved Regional Airports Programme, which runs from 2015 to 2019;
• A commitment to maintaining Ireland's attractiveness as a base for aircraft leasing;
• The undertaking of an independent review of the regulatory regime for airport charges by the end of this year 2015 and the future policy on airport charges regulation will be finalised by mid-2016;
• The establishment of a National Aviation Development Forum in order to consult with the industry on the development of the international regulatory agenda for aviation and to coordinate the promotion of Irish aviation.

Mr Donohoe said: "Aviation matters. It matters to the Irish economy, it matters to consumers, and it matters to this Government. The aviation sector contributes significantly to the Irish economy, it contributes over EUR4bn directly to Ireland's GDP, supporting 26,000 jobs with a further 16,000 jobs indirectly." Mr Donohoe added: "By 2020, we expect Irish airports will handle in the region of 33 million passengers and the Irish aviation has to be ready not just to deal with the challenges ahead in this changing global environment but to capitalise on the opportunities that will present, such as the shift taking place in the global aviation from the traditional EU-US axis, eastwards to Asia. Contributing to the nation's economic recovery is at the very heart of the purpose behind the preparation of this new aviation policy." [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]