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The increase in aviation traffic that Ireland experienced during the first quarter of 2010, which was up by +0.3% despite poor weather conditions, has been largely reversed during both April and May 2010 due to a combination of factors; such as the economic recession and the continued impact of the Icelandic Volcano on aviation.

The Icelandic Volcano impacted particularly on Irish traffic figures between the 15th to the 21st of April and then between the 7th to the 12th of May, due to Ireland's proximity to Iceland, and the prevailing weather patterns.

The combined impact of these two issues brought commercial over-flights of Irish airspace down by -10.5%, and North Atlantic (Europe /US) flights also down by -12.8% on May 2009.

The main airports also suffered badly in May 2010 with:

• Dublin air traffic down -12% on 2009
• Cork air traffic down -10.4%  
• Shannon air traffic down -58.2%

For the five month period January to May 2010, compared to 2009:

• Over-flights of Irish Airspace were down -4.9%
• North Atlantic (Europe /US) flights were down -6.9%
• Dublin Airport Flights were down -17.6%
• Cork Airport Flights were down -13%
• Shannon Airport flights were down -42.9%

Other European Air Navigation Service Providers have also experienced similar reductions in aviation traffic for 2010, due to the same factors. However, the latest available traffic forecast from EUROCONTROL estimate that European traffic will experience a growth rate of +0.8% for 2010. This forecast will however be revised in September 2010, when more information is available.

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