Irish air traffic dips in August

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) today issued the traffic figures for August 2008. For the first time since the 9-11 decline, commercial traffic displayed it's first ever dip. While YTD figures to the end of August are up, the monthly figures for August for the three state airports are down YoY for what is traditionally the busiest month of the year. The movements figures for the three state airports are as follows : Dublin : 18,108 down 1.4% Shannon : 3,111 down 10.7% Cork : 3,251 down 6.3% The report cites the high price of oil, reductions in airline schedules, currency fluctuations and the general economic state of mind as contributory factors. What is not mentioned is the weather which has been a significant contributor in the decline in Shannon's figures. For the month of August the Organised Track System (OTS) dictated by the prevailing winds has been either far north or south of Ireland. Shannon derives a higher percentage of total airport movements than Dublin or Cork from transit traffic. The presence or in this case absence of transit traffic is very much dependent on the OTS which 'failed' Shannon for August. North Atlantic communications handled by Ballygireen showed a modest 0.8% growth for the month to 36,356 which would tend to back up the theory on Shannon - the traffic didn't disappear - it just wasn't here.