LAST UPDATE | 11 Feb

CORK AIRPORT WAS forced to shut down its operations overnight due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.

AirNav Ireland, which is the State body with responsibility for managing air traffic control, said that it was forced to make the move due to a controller going on short notice sick leave. 

The incident happened between midnight and 7am and was taken to maintain safety, the group said. 

In a statement AirNav Ireland said that the temporary restriction was lifted this morning. 

“Due to short-notice sick leave on 11 February, AirNav Ireland’s Cork air traffic control operations temporarily restricted the flow of air traffic arriving and departing Cork Airport to ensure air traffic safety was maintained.

“Normal services have resumed in Cork and no further restrictions are expected. AirNav Ireland liaised with airline customers, the daa Cork Airport and the IAA about the flow restrictions.

“AirNav Ireland continues to implement a recruitment campaign to attract suitable candidates to work as air traffic control officers, engineers and radio officers,” the statement said.

A Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, was issued in a worldwide information system to pilots overnight explaining that the incident was connected with staffing shortages. 

Cork Airport, in a statement confirmed, the incident and apologised for any inconvenience to passengers.

There have been severe shortages in air traffic controllers in the Irish Air Corps, but it is understood that similar issues have been identified for the civilian operators. 

Recently public service union Fórsa, representing air traffic controllers made a submission to a dispute resolution board in regard to a complaint about staff shortages of air controllers in AirNav Ireland. 

The complaint also said that there was too much reliance on overtime call-ins to maintain operations.  

In its statement AirNav Ireland said that it had recently trained 32 student air traffic controllers in an 18-month-long programme.