- The IAA has published its Statement of Strategy 2026-2028 following a public consultation process.
- The strategy includes six key pillars: smarter regulation, digital transformation, consumer protection, elevated sustainability, innovation support, and general aviation expansion.
- Digital transformation initiatives will increase online processes to reduce turnaround times for licensing and certifications.
- The IAA will establish a dedicated environmental function to support Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF).
- The document aligns Irish airspace management with European Union ReFuelEU climate targets.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has been developing its Statement of Strategy for the 2026-2028 period, which now outlines the regulator’s plan to modernise services, advance aviation sustainability, and upgrade technical licensing. Following a comprehensive public consultation process that took place during 2025, the three-year roadmap focuses heavily on digital transformation and industry expansion. The document establishes six key strategic priorities, including smarter regulation, digital transformation, consumer protection, elevated sustainability, innovation support, and general aviation expansion.
The strategy adopts a risk-based approach to simplify regulatory compliance for smaller aviation bodies while increasing online processes to reduce turnaround times for licensing and certifications. The IAA plans to establish a dedicated environmental function to support Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and launch regulatory sandboxes for advanced air mobility and unmanned aircraft systems. Targeted digital licensing and specialised safety resources for general aviation represent a new addition to the strategic framework, reflecting the sector’s diverse needs.
The document explicitly establishes Ireland as an international hub for aerospace research by creating approval pathways for emerging aerospace tech. It details upcoming operational overhauls intended to align Irish airspace management with the European Union’s ReFuelEU climate targets. The reference period for the IAA Statement of Strategy aligns with the reference period for the Irish State Plan for Aviation Safety (SPAS), ensuring strategic objectives remain fully aligned with national safety and security objectives.
he IAA shared: “The reference period for the IAA Statement of Strategy is aligned with the reference period for the Irish State Plan for Aviation Safety (SPAS) which helps us ensure that our strategic objectives are fully aligned with the Strategic Safety and Security Objectives contained in the SPAS Volume I.”
