Air traffic rights for scheduled air services

Scheduled air services must be operated in accordance with:

• a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Ireland and the applicant third country air operator’s State of Registration;
• a Comprehensive Air Services Agreement between the European Union and the applicant third country air operator’s State of Registration; or
• an equivalent type of agreement between States or blocs of States.

Third country air operators applying to operate scheduled air services to, from and/or through Ireland:

• may need to be designated by the aeronautical authorities of their State of Registration;
• must be granted the required air traffic rights beforehand; and
• the weekly frequencies or capacity of their proposed air services must conform to any conditions detailed in the legal framework that the air services will operate in accordance with.

Cooperative arrangements (for example code sharing) on scheduled air services are permitted in accordance with:

• a Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Ireland and the applicant third country air operator’s State of Registration;
• a Comprehensive Air Services Agreement between the European Union and the applicant third country air operator’s State of Registration; or
• an equivalent type of agreement between States or blocs of States.

If no such agreement is in place, such arrangements may be authorised extra-bilaterally.

Third country air operators marketing (for example code sharing) on scheduled air services to, from and/or through Ireland must be granted authorisation to do so beforehand.

Civil Air Ireland processes applications for air traffic rights based on IATA summer and winter seasons:

• the summer season begins on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Saturday of October; and
• the winter season begins on the last Sunday of October and ends on the last Saturday of March.

Applications must be submitted a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the intended commencement date of the scheduled air services for:

• overflights;

• stops for non-traffic purposes; and

• flights to, from and/or through Ireland.

If possible, a greater notice period is appreciated.

Such an application must also detail those air operators intending to market (e.g. code share) on the proposed operated scheduled air services.

Civil Air Ireland in the Department of Transport is available to answer queries and process applications for air traffic rights to, from and/or through Ireland, during regular office hours.

Office hours (times are GMT)

Contact details

Applications must be submitted, using the appropriate form(s) only and additional paperwork as required.

Emails are the preferred medium of correspondence.

In order to comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation), please ensure no personal information pertaining to aircrew and passengers is supplied as part of an application for air traffic rights, apart from the personal information specifically requested on the application form.

Overflights and stops for non-traffic purposes can be included on the supplementary application form, with details provided in the notes section.

This application process is for the granting of air traffic right only, and does not remove any other requirements laid down by other agencies, airports and stakeholders.

Should any proposed scheduled air services involve operations beyond fourth freedoms, a supplementary application form must be completed for each particular route, with additional marketing information attached.

Applications for air traffic rights for beyond fourth freedoms are considered on a case-by-case basis, and involve a period of stakeholder consultation.

If, after submitting an application for air traffic rights or having been granted air traffic rights, there is a change to the scheduled air services (e.g. a route flown or frequencies) or an element is cancelled, this should be immediately communicated to Civil Air Ireland.