Title: Challenges Facing Irish Aviation
1Challenges Facing Irish Aviation
- Presentation by Julie ONeill
- Secretary General
- Department of Transport to
- French Connect 2009
- 23 April 2009
2Aviation Vital to the Irish Economy
- Small Open Island Economy on the edge of Europe
- Our Aviation Strategy
- To promote regular, safe, cost-effective and
competitive air services linking the country with
key business and tourism markets - Liberalisation of aviation market crucial to
development of the sector in recent years - We also need efficient, competitive airports to
serve a range of business models (short haul,
long haul, cargo etc.) - Plan for the long term while meeting the changing
needs of users in a very competitive and
demanding market now
3Overview of Gateways to Island of Ireland
4Benefits to Ireland of Growth of Sector
- Passenger Numbers
- 30 million air journeys to/from Rep of Ireland
each year - 17 consecutive years of growth at our primary
national gateway Dublin Airport - Dublin Airport is now 14th largest airport in
world for international traffic - Dublin Airport caters for more international
passengers than JFK, LAX, Rome or Zurich - Range of services at Shannon dramatically
increased - Growth in air transport played a significant part
in our economic success since mid-1990s. Will
also play a key role in our economic recovery.
5Irish people like to travel abroad
- In 2007, Irish people made 7.7 million trips
abroad - Highest rate of foreign travel in Europe
- Number of intra European journeys made by
Irish is 5 times greater than the average for
continental Europe, per head of population - France, with 15 times Irelands population,
generates only twice a many intra-European
journeys per head of pop.
6Growth in Passenger Numbers at State Airports
2004-2008
7Passenger Growth at DublinGrowth of Aer Lingus
and Ryanair
8Passenger Growth at Shannon and Cork 2004-2008
9Growth in Passenger Numbers at our six Regional
Airports 2004-2008
10Wide Range of Services in Irish Air Transport
Market
- Routes
- Wide range of services particularly in short haul
and transatlantic markets - This summer, almost 40 airlines will operate
scheduled services from our three State Airports
to over 200 destinations - Competition and choice
- Our pro-competition policies help facilitate the
growth of two strong competing independent
airlines Ryanair and Aer Lingus - Ryanair 110 routes Aer Lingus 80 routes serving
Irish air transport. Falling air fares also a key
feature. - Key transatlantic market
- 5 airlines provide direct access to 9 US points.
One-stop connectivity to/from over 40 additional
US destinations available through Aer Lingus
partners
11Ireland - France Air Transport Market
- Ireland-France market is very significant approx
1.6 million passengers through Dublin Airport
alone - Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Cityjet and Aer Arann will
operate approx 30 scheduled services to 17 French
airports this summer season from Dublin, Shannon,
Cork and regional airports - Number of visitors to Ireland from France 4 in
2008 (414,700)
12Aviation a Cyclical Business Impact of Downturn
- International trends
- 2009 is a very difficult year Global Recession
- Pax, loads and yields
- International Demand set to fall by at least 5.7
and Yields to fall by 4.3 (per IATA) - Irish experience similar
- Aer Lingus reduced long haul capacity Ryanair
announced reduction of short haul capacity at
Shannon and Dublin - Impact on Airlines, Airports, Tourism
- Airlines facing two immediate challenges
conserve cash and carefully match capacity to
demand
13Differential Impact of Downturn
- Airlines Legacy, Low Cost and Regional
- Cost Management and Flexibility the key to
survival. LCCs better placed to react. - Airports Hub vs Secondary
- Numbers at hub airports declining faster than at
secondary airports. Implications for policy
makers/regulators? - Routes
- Long-haul routes and business class, in
paricular, in serious decline at present - Hub and Spoke vs Point to Point. There is a need
to ensure that a wide range of connectivity
options remains available
14Opportunities and Threats in this Downturn
- Consolidation or Competition?
- Recent merger activity ClickAir/Vueling
Lufthansa/BMI probably Lufthansa/Austrian,
possibly BA/Iberia - Development of alliances, particularly on
transatlantic, eg. proposed BA/AA/Iberia and Aer
Lingus/United - Protectionism Vs Liberalisation
- EU Proposals onSlots Implications of proposed
suspension of use it or lose it rule? - EU-US Stage 2- Downturn underscores importance of
reaching a second stage agreement and the
relaxation of ownership and control barriers - Short term Vs Long term view
- Focus on costs in short term Vs need to plan and
provide infrastructure for the future to meet
needs of all sectors
15Wider Challenges
- Positioning for an Upturn in the Cycle
- Airlines cost / fleet management
- Airports cost management and appropriate
infrastructure planning - Policy Makers/Regulators ensure level playing
field minimise regulatory burden where possible
Air Traffic Management initiatives to improve
efficiency - Ensuring Connectivity to Growing Markets in Far
East - Department in consultation with China and India,
and others, with a view to liberalising existing
bilateral air service agreements - Environmental Challenge
- Long Term price of Oil?
- Climate Change ETS and Post Kyoto