Air traffic controllers warn of potential summer disruption at airports due to staff shortages

Ellen O'Donoghue

Air traffic controllers have warned of potential disruption at airports this summer due to staffing shortages.

Recent weeks have seen runway restrictions at Dublin Airport and an overnight closure at Cork.

The Irish Air Traffic Controllers Association told the Sunday Independent that the system is increasingly reliant on overtime.

AirNav Ireland hopes resolution talks will take place.

Eoghan Corry, editor of Travel Extra, told Newstalk that passengers could face an anxious time ahead.

"Air traffic control hasn’t been recruiting or hasn’t been able to recruit at the level that’s required. What is worrying is we’ve had 10 incidents since the start of the year, and this is low season in terms of aviation," Corry said.

"When the summer kicks in, it’s unlikely that things will have improved."