Tourism body Fáilte Ireland met today with senior Ryanair and Aer Lingus representatives to discuss how the number of visitors coming to the country by air can be increased.
Issues discussed at the meeting included the bilateral air agreement between the US and EU which regulates the frequency and number of flights between the US and Ireland.
Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Willie Walsh has stated on a number of occassions that the airline could significantly increase the number of US tourists it carries to Ireland if the agreement was renegotiated.
Both sides agreed that the Tourism Policy Review Group's target of increasing annual visitor numbers to 10 million by 2012 can only be met by increasing the capacity and frequency of air services.
"A healthy viable airline industry is critical for the success of our tourism industry," said Fáilte Ireland Chairman Ms Gillian Bowler. "We cannot overstate the crucial importance of easy, affordable access to Ireland as an island nation on the periphery of Europe."
Other issues that need to be urgently addressed, according to Fáilte Ireland include the development of capacity at Dublin airport; new routes into the country, particularly from continental Europe to the west coast; and the provision of interlining services for passengers from long haul markets which enable them to book their baggage right through to Ireland.