The Irish Aviation Authority has appointed its commercial director, Mr Eamonn Brennan, as chief executive designate.

Mr Brennan - a brother of Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Mr Seamus Brennan - will replace Mr Brian McDonnell, who retires at the end of the year.

The appointment by the board of the Irish Aviation Authority was approved on behalf of the Government by the Minister of State for Transport and Infrastructure, Dr Jim McDaid. The board is chaired by former executive chairman of Elan, Mr Donal Geaney, who resigned those roles earlier this week amid a collapse in the drug-maker's share price.

Mr Geaney was recently re-appointed chairman of the aviation body's board for another four-year term.

Mr McDonnell's remuneration package last year was worth in the region of €215,000 and Mr Brennan is considered likely to earn a similar sum.

Aged 42, Mr Brennan joined the authority as business development manager in 1995. He is an accountant and worked previously in the tourism business in Malaysia and south-east Asia.

Mr McDonnell was the first chief executive of the authority, which was established in 1994.

The authority, which regulates air traffic movements, is attempting to recover from a slowdown last year after the attacks against the US last September.

The downturn was the major factor behind a fall in pre-tax profits last year to €5.7 million from €7 million in 2000, despite a 15.4 per cent rise in revenues to €87.1 million from €69 million.

Engineering a recovery will be among the prime tasks facing Mr Brennan in his new role. He will also be responsible for implementing a Single European Sky project led by the European Commission.

Greater integration of air traffic management systems is expected, leaving some workers in the industry fearful of job losses. It recently prompted strike action by air traffic controllers in France.