Aviation in 2015

In August 2015, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe T.D., launched Ireland's first National Aviation Policy. The aviation sector is a major sector of Ireland's economy, contributing some €4.1bn directly to GDP and supporting 26,000 jobs directly and a further 16,000 in the supply chain.

Some highlights of our work in support of the new National Aviation Policy and Ireland's aviation industry throughout 2015 were as follows:

• In May, Minister of State Sean Sherlock T.D. addressed the third annual Aviation and Aerospace Networking Dinner event at the Irish Embassy in London and undertook a day-long series of engagements with Enterprise Ireland client companies and leading aviation and aerospace companies based in the English midlands.
• In June, Minister of State Sherlock led the Irish delegation to the International Paris Air Show, supporting seven Irish companies in the aerospace and aviation supply sector.
• Also in June 2015, Ethiopian Airlines began a three times weekly service connecting Addis Ababa, Dublin and Los Angeles. Ireland's Embassy in Addis Ababa and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked closely with Ethiopian Airlines, the Ethiopian Government and relevant authorities on the Irish side to secure the new route, which is the first scheduled service between Ireland and Africa. The conclusion of a Double Taxation Agreement and a bilateral Transport Agreement with Ethiopia were amongst the policy instruments that helped to facilitate the business.
• Recognising Ireland's leading role in aircraft leasing globally, an official from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a senior manager from Avolon Aircraft Leasing participated in the Department's first public-private strategic staff exchange programme during 2015. The programme has enabled the Department to gain a greater understanding of the needs of global Irish companies in the strategically important aviation sector.