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Irish Aviation Authority figures for October 2011 indicate that total flights in Irish airspace have declined by 5.7%, when compared to October 2010, due to a significant drop in international arrival and departures and also in en route traffic movements (flights which do not land in Ireland.) There was an average of 1,439 daily flights during October 2011, the busiest day being the 28 October with 1,647 flights in Irish airspace.

There was a decline of 4.7% in Ireland's en route traffic movements during October 2011, compared to the same month the previous year. This is the second consecutive month the IAA has observed a significant growth reduction in this area since the start of 2011. North Atlantic communications flights (flights transiting between Europe and North America) also saw a decline of 0.85% this month, when compared to October 2010. Interestingly EUROCONTROL noted last month that Russia has overtaken the USA as the number one destination from Europe.

On a cumulative basis growth in en route traffic movements and North Atlantic Communications flights between January and October 2011 was 4.1% and 4.8% respectively. However, when this growth is adjusted for the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis in 2010, the comparable growth for the ten months between January 2011 and October 2011, when compared to 2010, is adjusted downward to 0.4% and 1% respectively.

In relation to international arrivals and departures, the commercial terminal traffic for Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports dropped by 7.7% in October 2011, when compared to October 2010. Individually, the October 2011 figures for the three State airports, when compared to the same month in the previous year are;

• Commercial terminal flights at Dublin were down by 8.8%, with an average of 404 daily commercial movements at Dublin.
• Commercial terminal flights at Cork were down 10.1%, with an average of 58 commercial daily movements at Cork.
• Commercial terminal flights at Shannon were up 4.5%, with an average of 57 commercial daily movements at Shannon.

On a cumulative basis growth in commercial terminal traffic for Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports between January 2011 and October 2011 was up by 0.4%. However when this growth is adjusted for the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis in 2010, the comparison for the ten months between January 2011 and October 2011, when compared to 2010, results in a 0.45% reduction.  

There were no Irish air traffic flow regulation delays during the month. Ireland traditionally has one of the lowest levels of such delays in Europe.