Profits rose 2.3% at the Irish Aviation Authority in 2006 as air transport activity continued to grow with North Atlantic traffic up on lower fares and a weaker dollar.
Turnover was up 5.2% to €134.4m, up from €127.7m in 2005. Profit after tax was €13.7m, an increase of 2.3% over 2005.
The authority last year got 75.5% of its turnover from aircraft flying through Irish air space that do not land here.
Dublin traffic increased by 5.3% and Shannon traffic was up 3.6%, while Cork increased by 3.3%, the annual report showed.
The IAA said the weaker dollar and increased competition amongst air carriers in 2006 saw North Atlantic traffic rise by 5.4% over 2005 figures.
In October 2006 the IAA took control of the North Oceanic Transition Area (NOTA), comprising 95,000 square kilometres, located to the North West of Ireland.
It said today this substantially increased the IAA share of air traffic transiting between Europe and North America and as a result it has reduced its charges to en route airlines by 20% over the last two years.
The Irish aircraft register and numbers continue to grow with a total of 1,046 aircraft on the register in 2006, up from 877 in 2005.
Helicopters also showed growth with 140 on the register at the end of 2006 compared with 56 in 2000, the annual report showed.
Chairman Jerry Liston said the challenges of the EU's sky regulations and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the key focus in the years ahead.
The commercial semi-state body is responsible for the provision of air traffic control services in Irish-controlled airspace and the safety regulation of the Irish civil aviation industry.
