Irish airspace was back at 1980s levels of flight traffic last year, according to the Irish Aviation Authority.
Air traffic controllers managed fewer than half a million journeys in total, a drop of 58 percent from 2019.
Trans-Atlantic trips were down over half, while commercial flights out of Dublin airport dropped by 64 percent.
Ireland's been hit disproportionately by the slow down, largely because of the fall in trans-Atlantic travel.
2020 Irish and trans-Atlantic Air Traffic – Return to 1980’s Levels. For more on this, visit https://t.co/2XIDiFs2Fb #aviation pic.twitter.com/Ta1swlcm75
— IAA (@IAApress) January 15, 2021
IAA Chief Executive, Mr. Peter Kearney said the recovery starts this year, alongside providing Covid support:
“We must re-double these efforts now, whilst also looking forward to a brighter future for the sector."
"Recovery will start later this year and aviation must be ready to play its key role in supporting economic and social wellbeing, when recovery commences."
"While the numbers of flights remain very low in January and for the foreseeable future, we are hopeful of a sustained recovery from Q3 onwards.”
