Cork airport closes for the night

[Kahnee]

An Irish airport will shut down tonight because one air traffic controller missed a deadline for a training refresher course.

Major disruption is expected during the eight-hour closure at Cork Airport, which unions claim have been sparked by low staffing levels.

The grounding of flights is the latest development in an overtime ban by air traffic controllers in a dispute over staffing levels.

Impact, the air traffic controllers union, maintain tonight's disruption is down to one member of staff not being available because a part of her work permit for Cork has expired.

A spokesman claimed the staff member concerned had been on roster at Dublin Airport and was not released from her duties there early enough to validate her training in Cork.

Strict aviation safety regulations mean each air traffic controller must undergo fresh training for each airport if they have not worked at that location for more than 90 days.

"She was scheduled to work in Cork tonight but is not available for duty and nobody is available for overtime," said the Impact spokesman.

"What this points to is the general staff shortage."

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said the worker was undergoing staff training tonight and in the morning and would return to work tomorrow evening.

"It is very unusual for this to happen," said a spokeswoman. "Her 90 days had just expired."

Irish air traffic controllers issued a two-week strike notice to management on Tuesday, after 99% of controllers voted in favour of industrial action.

The members of the Impact trade union claim there has been a recruitment ban for the last six years.

Eleven early morning flights will be affected by the closure, which the IAA said has been caused by unofficial action.

Passengers due to fly are advised to contact their airline for further information.

The IAA spokeswoman said the overtime ban was taking place despite a notification from Impact that official industrial action would not be effective before February 26.

"The present unofficial disruption is orchestrated by controllers to ensure that the Authority is short of staff and for safety reasons the Authority has to restrict traffic and reduce or close services," she added.

Further talks are scheduled to take place between the parties next Tuesday.