A trade union has warned that a lack of air traffic control staff at Dublin Airport could see travel plans disrupted for passengers flying out of the capital during the upcoming busy summer season.
Fórsa, which is the second largest trade union in the state with over 80,000 members, noted that there were three recent delays at the airport, whereby planes were stalled due to air traffic controllers taking breaks.
Niall Shanahan, spokesperson for Fórsa, told Newstalk that the situation was "extraordinary" and that it was as far back as 2008 when staff shortages first curtailed Irish passengers due to subsequent delays at Dublin Airport.
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Mr Shanahan warned that the situation could erupt again at Dublin Airport ahead of this summer, following on from previous staff shortages last May which led to hundreds of passengers either being delayed or missing their flights.
He also noted a number of cutbacks to flights in international airports around the world due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, admitting that it "reflects an ongoing difficulty with the air navigation service."
Mr Shanahan told Newstalk that other airports as well as Dublin are currently "struggling" with high traffic levels and a shortage of airport staff. He also noted the disturbance of drones in Dublin Airport as another factor affecting travel.
Dublin Airport Authority stated that they have now trained their staff in the use of anti-drone technology and are just awaiting regulatory approval, which they hope, will lead to no further drone-related disturbances. Air traffic control at Dublin Airport is managed by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
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