DUBLIN AIRPORT’S AIRSPACE was forced to close at intervals in the early hours of this morning due to staffing issues at AirNav Ireland.

The two closures are understood to have lasted 50 minutes each. Sources have said that there was a slight impact on a number of transatlantic inbound flights.

Areas of Irish airspace have been closed more than 10 times since the beginning of the year due to staff shortages in air traffic control, The Journal reported earlier this week. 

Cork Airport was forced to close overnight in the early hours of Wednesday because just one air traffic controller phoned in sick. 

It is understood the cause of many of the incidents is a crippling shortage of controllers, not just here in Ireland but globally.

AirNav Ireland is responsible for providing air traffic management services in the 451,000 km2 of airspace controlled by Ireland. It has over 650 employees.

AirNav Ireland was contacted for comment.

Earlier this week, it said in a statement that it “continues to implement a recruitment campaign to attract suitable candidates to work as air traffic control officers, engineers and radio officers”.