The aviation sector has been "demonised" since the pandemic began, with unreasonable constraints being put on reopening connectivity, according to the daa which operates Dublin and Cork Airports.
In a submission to the Oireachtas Transport Committee, daa Chief Executive Dalton Philips described the two airports as engines of the Irish economy, but warns that they are now "running on empty".
He said other key sectors had been allowed to reopen on the understanding and acceptance that there is an element of risk involved. "The Irish aviation sector, however, is being held to a much higher and, quite frankly, unreasonable standard, with continued constraints being placed on opening up international travel.