Irish aviation to shrink 30% after 'repressive' lockdown -IATA

Ireland’s air connectivity is likely to shrink by 30% after the imposition of Europe’s most “repressive” COVID-19 travel restrictions and may need five years to recover, the head of global industry group IATA Willie Walsh warned on Wednesday. Walsh was speaking a day after Irish airline Aer Lingus, part of the International Airlines Group he headed until late last year, announced a major restructuring including layoffs to “rebuild financial health.” Ryanair, Ireland’s largest airline, has said it will give priority to other European markets in the coming months and base fewer planes in Ireland due to the restrictions. The Irish government, which has prioritised international connectivity in recent years as a support for its large U.S. multinational sector, advised against most non-essential international travel since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.<br/>