IAA chief urges Government to include aviation in Brexit talks

The chief executive of the Irish Aviation Authority has urged the Government to include aviation in its Brexit discussions at EU level in order to avoid us sinking into another recession.

Speaking at one in a series of Brexit-focused breakfast briefings, organised by Shannon Chamber in conjunction with the Shannon Group plc, Eamonn Brennan said: “Ireland makes the most trips by air to the UK, a jurisdiction that is 60 per cent of capacity at Shannon, Knock and Kerry airports. Sixty-three per cent of these trips to the UK would not take place without air so anything that affects these close links could tip the broader economy into recession.”

Brennan also warned against Shannon Airport being complacent in banking on its US ties and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to act as its unique selling point. “The US wants to clear the big backlog at its airports so expect to see CBPs popping up in many additional airports, wiping out Shannon’s advantage in this area,” he said.

“Shannon needs to prepare for this, and for the advent of new aircraft types that require less maintenance, repair and overhaul. Another dilemma for Shannon is its catchment area, which is a critical determinant in an airline’s destination choice. This can be a double-edged sword for Shannon as there is little point in attracting new airlines if the populous at large is not filing the aircraft. It’s a simple fact that airlines will not continue a route if people do not use it.”

Aviation is of critical importance to the Shannon region and almost 100 key executives, many involved in the sector, turned up at the Inn at Dromoland to hear the IAA’s chief present his views on how Brexit might impact the aviation and aerospace sector in Ireland and in Shannon.

“The aviation industry needs to lobby hard to secure member state support,” said Brennan in his closing address. “The sector is just one of many competing Government and EU priorities, but Irish aviation has more at stake than most EU states in a post-Brexit era.”

Pictured above: Eamonn Brennan, CEO, Irish Aviation Authority