Press release

Eamonn Brennan takes office as Director General of EUROCONTROL

Eamonn Brennan

“EUROCONTROL is a hidden gem in Europe, with privileged contacts with the military, its member states, aviation partners and international organisations. I am determined to convince our stakeholders that we bring value. I want to involve them more but with a tighter focus. I am going to make sure that EUROCONTROL works more efficiently and that what it does is what is actually wanted.

I want to maintain a very positive relationship with the European institutions and agencies as well as working with non-EU states. My ambition is to see air traffic management done in a pan-European way but without duplication."

Brussels, Belgium – Eamonn Brennan was appointed by the 41 Member States of EUROCONTROL to lead the organisation as its Director General from 1 January 2018.

Before joining EUROCONTROL, Eamonn Brennan was the Chief Executive of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) where he was responsible for the provision of Air Traffic Management (ATM) services in Irish controlled airspace, aeronautical communications on the North Atlantic, and Air Traffic Control at the major Irish Airports, as well as the safety and security regulation of the Irish civil aviation industry.

He has worked as a management and training consultant in London, Kuala Lumpur and South East Asia, working on projects for the private sector, the World Tourism Organisation and the European Commission, amongst others.

Eamonn Brennan has held many leading roles in the Air Traffic Management industry, including: 

  • Member of the Executive Board of the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) from 2005 to 2011; he served as Global Deputy Chairman and Chairman
  • Served as Chairman of the COOPANS Alliance Board (Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden), a fully harmonised ATM system
  • Board member of Aireon LLc, a space-based Air Traffic Management surveillance partnership with Iridium (US), ENAV (Italy), NAV Canada, Naviair (Denmark) and the Irish Aviation Authority
  • Board member and Chairman of Entry Point North, a leading joint aviation training company of Denmark, Ireland and Sweden
  • Served as Chairman of EURCONTROL’s Air Navigation Services Board (ANSB)
  • Member of the Borealis Alliance Board, an industry‐wide partnership of nine northern European ANSPs
  • Project Director for the Airline Group’s successful bid for NATS shareholding.

Eamonn Brennan has over 35 years’ experience working across three continents, in over 25 countries, in both the public and private sector. He has played a central role in the development of aviation policy both in Ireland and abroad. He keenly supported the implementation of the Single European Sky programme, working closely with the EU, EC, EASA, EUROCONTROL and SESAR. 

“EUROCONTROL is a hidden gem in Europe, with privileged contacts with the military, its member states, aviation partners and international organisations. I am determined to convince our stakeholders that we bring value. I want to involve them more but with a tighter focus. I am going to make sure that EUROCONTROL works more efficiently and that what it does is what is actually wanted.

“I want to maintain a very positive relationship with the European institutions and agencies as well as working with non-EU states. My ambition is to see air traffic management done in a pan-European way but without duplication.”

Eamonn Brennan Director General EUROCONTROL

Note to editors

EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has as its primary objective to develop a seamless, pan-European air traffic management (ATM) system that fully copes with the growth in air traffic, while maintaining a high level of safety, reducing costs and respecting the environment. EUROCONTROL has 41 Member States: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, North Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. EUROCONTROL has Comprehensive Agreements with the Kingdom of Morocco and the State of Israel.