Emerald Airlines, the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional services, welcomes the publication of Irelandia Aviation’s “A Pathfinder for Irish Aviation”, a comprehensive and forward-looking report highlighting the strategic importance of aviation to Ireland's economy.

Emerald Airlines fully supports the report’s recognition of aviation as a vital national asset and its call for targeted policy action to ensure the sector's competitiveness and resilience.

Commenting on the report, Keith Butler, Chief Executive Officer at Emerald Airlines said: “A Pathfinder for Irish Aviation makes it clear that aviation is central to Ireland’s future, powering regional growth, job creation and a more connected island. We fully support its recommendations and are committed to strengthening regional air links while developing the next generation of aviation talent.

We welcome the report’s emphasis on an all-island approach to aviation, particularly in integrating training capabilities into a unified national strategy. With our growing base in Belfast, targeted initiatives to expand pilot and engineer training are critical.

The acute shortage of local aviation talent in Northern Ireland presents a real challenge and we strongly encourage stakeholders to prioritise these all-Ireland training solutions as a strategic imperative for the long-term sustainability of regional aviation”

Key Areas of Support:

• An All-Island Strategy for Aviation: The call for a national aviation policy that recognises regional connectivity as a public good is a key finding that Emerald Airlines strongly endorses. In particular, eliminating Air Passenger Departure tax in Northern Ireland, enacting promised Public Service Obligations to operate Dublin-Derry and Cork-Belfast routes and mandating the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to promote the all-island aviation industry.
• Unlocking Dublin Airport as a Strategic Asset: The report highlights the need to remove the artificial passenger cap at Dublin Airport. As a primary hub for connectivity, Emerald Airlines stresses that removing these constraints is vital for Ireland’s continued growth and attractiveness as an EU travel and investment gateway. As Ireland’s youngest airline and now the third largest at Dublin Airport, Emerald Airlines’ long-term viability depends on its ability to grow to a sustainable scale, an opportunity currently constrained by the Dublin Airport passenger cap.
• Quadrupling Pilot Training Capacity: With growing route demand and pilot shortages, Emerald Airlines supports the creation of a €40 million Pilot Training Loan Fund through ISIF.
• Skills and Workforce Development: A vibrant, well-supported aviation sector is key to securing aviation careers for future generations. Emerald Airlines supports initiatives that align aviation growth with education, training and workforce planning.