Ryanair has announced plans to build a new €40m hangar and aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin airport.
The investment will result in the creation of 200 new engineering and aircraft mechanic jobs.
The new 120,000 sq ft facility will be used to carry out routine maintenance and repairs on some of the airline's expanding fleet of aircraft, which is due to reach 600 by 2026.
Construction is to begin later this year and it is expected that the facility will be operational by 2025.
"With a growing fleet we need places to do routine maintenance and heavy maintenance for aircraft, and Dublin is our second largest base and it makes sense to build one here," Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said.
"So we will have a four bay hangar, which means four aircraft can actually fit into that," he added.
Mr Wilson expressed confidence that the airline would be able to fill the new roles, despite the pressure on skills in the sector.
He said Ireland has a long history in aircraft maintenance and it is very interesting work.
He added that Ryanair also has an apprentice programme for aircraft maintenance technicians.
Ryanair's growing fleet is of concern to those who argue that airlines need to do more to cut carbon emissions.
But Mr Wilson said Ryanair is investing in new Boeing 737 aircraft that burn 16% less fuel and have more seats, making them more efficient.
"A lot of aircraft operators out there are not investing in aircraft, so our environmental footprint per passenger is actually falling," he said.
While the hangar itself will use gas absorption heat pumps, reducing energy use by up to 35%, the airline claims.
Boeing last week paused supplies of some of its new 737 Max aircraft after concerns emerged about some components coming from a particular supplier.
Ryanair is expecting 24 between now and June.
Mr Wilson said the pause does not affect its existing aircraft and it is working with Boeing to assess the impact the issue will have on its expected future deliveries.
"But we don’t anticipate any major disruption this summer," he said.
Mr Wilson also played down a report in yesterday's Business Post that the airline is concerned about the readiness of Dublin airport to cope with increased passengers this summer.
"We would obviously have a concern about the daa having the right amount of security personnel and I know they are working through that," he said.
"They are in much better shape than they were last year. It is a matter for them," he added.
He reiterated concerns though that plans to increase passenger charges at Dublin airport might lead to a reduction in Ryanair flights from the airport next winter.
Regarding the outlook for the summer on fares, Mr Wilson said a lot of airlines have not yet recovered from the pandemic and this reduction in seats coupled with inflationary pressures from higher fuel prices will mean fares are tracking up.
Meanwhile, Shannon-based Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) has announced opportunities for 45 apprentice aircraft maintenance engineers starting in June and September.
It has teamed up with the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) and SOLAS Learning Works to offer the 45 roles through four-year apprenticeship or two-year traineeship programmes.
"As well as addressing our skills needs here at AAG, there is a global shortage of qualified aircraft engineers, making this an extremely valuable skill and exciting career to embark on," AAG chief aviation services officer Eva O'Keeffe said.
"Through our Training Academy and partnership with the Limerick and Clare Education Training Board we are committed to running three CAT A Traineeship classes this year to address this skill shortage."
