The numbers of staff earning over €100,000 at the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) last year increased by 31 to 374.
That is according to the 2019 IAA annual report which also discloses that the body has this year slashed its dividend to the State by 60% to €7.8m.
The board of the IAA made its decision to sharply reduce the dividend from the €19.5m paid out in 2019 on March 20th as restrictions from Covid 19 began to be implemented.
Since then international air travel has largely come to a stop which will put a massive hole in IAA revenues for 2020.
The new accounts show that last year the IAA's pre-tax profits reduced by 13% to €32.8m.
This followed revenues dipping marginally from €198.9m to €197.22m.
The authority recorded post tax profits of €27.8m after paying corporation tax of €6m.
The largest proportion of IAA revenues came from 'en route’ sector where the IAA provides air traffic services to flights that fly over 451,000 sq km of Irish controlled airspace and this accounted for €120.9m of income.
The annual report states that last year, there were 351,731 overflights while terminal commercial traffic totaled 272,527.
The accounts show that more than half its 714 staff - at 52.4% - earned over €100,000.
The figures show that there are 14 staff earning €175,000 and more; 21 earning between €150,000 and €175,000; 154 earning between €125,000 and €150,000 and 185 earning between €100,000 and €125,000.
Last year, staff costs at the IAA amounted to €93.53m.
In his first full year in the post of chief executive officer, Peter Kearney's remuneration last year totaled €320,000, made up of €225,000 in basic salary, €81,000 in pension contributions and €14,000 in other taxable benefits.
In his review, Mr Kearney stated that air traffic activity reached record highs in 2019.
On the Covid 19 pandemic, Mr Kearney stated: "At time of writing, the aviation sector is facing its single greatest challenge caused by the Covid 19 global pandemic."
He stated: "With flights grounded across the world and significant fears for the viability of many aviation companies and the jobs of staff, it is a deeply worrying time for the aviation sector."
The authority’s profits last year takes account of Met Eireann charges of €8.3m and non-cash depreciation charges of €12.18m along with rental charges of €3.92m.
At the end of December last, the IAA’s shareholder funds totaled €215.63m.
