Pat Noctor, president of the Irish Air Traffic Controllers Association, has said flight cancellations appear inevitable. Photograph: Alan BetsonEfforts are being made to minimise disruption to passengers amid ongoing staffing issues with air traffic controllers, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has said. Our primary focus is on ensuring the smooth operation of our airports and minimising disruption to passengers,” O’Brien said in a statement on Sunday. O’Brien was responding to comments by Pat Noctor, president of the Irish Air Traffic Controllers Association, in an interview with the Sunday Independent. Noctor said flight cancellations appear inevitable, as the system has become increasingly dependent on air traffic controllers volunteering for overtime on rest days.

Source: The Irish Times February 15, 2026 21:45 UTC