In it's report the Commission said that the downturn in the aviation and leisure travel markets saw 5 tour operators go out of business during the second half of 2008. The Commission processed over 2,000 applications for redress arising from these failures and organised 11 special flights to repatriate 1,500 passengers who had been stranded overseas as a result of flight which did not operate to schedule. The Commission notes that in a six month period it had to process more bond related work than in the previous eight years and perhaps more than in the history of bonded travel.
In relation to aircraft operators the Commission is responsible for issuing Air Carrier Operating Licences as opposed to Air Operators Certificate which is issued by the IAA. The ACOL is required by Irish based operators wishing to operate aircraft for the purpose of remuneration or hire. At the end of 2008 there were a total of 18 Irish airlines licensed by the Commission, in a year when two new licences were issued, one was revoked and one went out of business. Three operators were subjected to a one year review of their licence.
In addition to air operators the commission is also responsible for issuing operating licences to ground handling companies at the three state airports of Dublin, Cork and Shannon. At the end of 2008 there were a total of 12 approved self handlers and 41 suppliers of approved ground handling services at the three airports.
On the finance side the commission turned a surplus of €1.3m for the year, up from almost €377,000 the previous year. Wages rose from €1.59m in 2007 to €1.7m in 2008 while pension costs doubled to almost €100k. consultancy costs dropped substantially from €475k in 2007 to €44k in 2008 which will have helped boost the surplus in no small way.
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