IAA airspace traffic down 3.9% in 2010, six years of growth lost

Irish Aviation Authority announced traffic in Irish-controlled airspace fell 3.96% year-on-year to 513,236. The IAA stated that the figure is a 14.5% drop from 2008, the air traffic controller's record year. The authority added the 2010 figure is "representative of those achieved in 2004". The IAA attributed the fall to the ash cloud crisis, severe winter weather in Dec-2010 and the ongoing economic trouble in Ireland. It expects growth to return in 2011.