Shannon Airport expecting 100k passenger rise this winter

Shannon Airport is expecting to increase passenger numbers by 100,000 this winter, as a result of a new investment by Ryanair.

The airline plans to add a number of routes from the Co Clare facility, as well as offering increased frequency on several other services.

It said that it will invest €87 million in an expansion of services from Shannon this winter.

The company plans to base a fourth aircraft there, increasing flight frequency and allowing for enhanced flexibility.

New routes will be offered to Madrid, Madeira and Lapland, in addition to extra flights to existing destinations.

Chief Executive of the Shannon Airport Group Mary Considine said the announcement would offer passengers greater choice and boost the airport’s position as “a key gateway to and from the west of Ireland”.

She described the investment as an endorsement of the way in which the airport could assist in addressing regional imbalance and drive economic activity across the region.

There is a need for a new aviation policy to support the airport’s strategic importance and further develop its potential, Ms Considine added.

She called on the Government to expedite a review of the Regional Airports Programme, to allow for an increase in the passenger threshold for State aid.

Ms Considine contended that an existing cap of one million passengers for such supports should be extended to three million.

Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer Jason McGuinness said the company’s investment would lead to a 20% increase in the volume of passengers using its services to and from Shannon.

He said the decision underpinned a commitment to regional airports and its support for tourism activity in the region.

There is scope for further growth, Mr McGuinness added, as well as changes to the Regional Airports Programme, would allow for increased traffic to Shannon, Kerry and Ireland West airports.

Ryanair’s overall annual traffic through Shannon is forecast to grow to 1.6 million passengers as a result of today’s announcement.

Speaking at the launch of the investment programme, Mr McGuinness again called on the Government to address the cap on flights into and out of Dublin Airport.

While he emphasised the potential for airports outside the capital to expand, he said the Dublin issue is a separate matter and needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.