The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) expects to be well positioned for extra European business when the integration of air traffic services within the EU occurs, the chairman of the State company, Mr Donal Geany, said yesterday, writes Eibhir Mulqueen.

Mr Geany was speaking after the official opening of a £20 million (€25.4 million) training centre for air traffic controllers in Shannon, Co Clare. A further investment of up to £60 million will be made in fitting out the centre over the next three years as an operational base.

The IAA, which employs 650 people, is hoping it will gain European business as the point-of-entry for transatlantic traffic. Currently, aeroplanes are regulated by the traffic services of the states they are flying over but proposals on a "European Single Sky" initiative are expected from the European Commission shortly.