Ryanair said today it has submitted a planning application for an expansion of its engineering operations at Shannon Airport.
The €50m planned investment will include a new four-bay aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Shannon Airport, making it Ryanair’s largest aircraft maintenance facility in Ireland.
Ryanair currently operates a three-bay aircraft maintenance hangar at Shannon Airport, which has a workforce of over 200.
The airline said the new MRO hangar will form a key part of its ongoing investment in aircraft maintenance, operational resilience and engineering training across its network.
The new project, which is supported by Enterprise Ireland, will also include a new Ryanair Engineering Academy, which will see the creation of 80 new apprenticeship roles and support the training of over 400 additional aircraft mechanics between 2027 and 2031.
Subject to planning approval, Ryanair said it expects construction to start in early 2027, with the new facility expected to enter operation in late 2028.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said the Shannon Airport project is about jobs, skills and growth.
“Shannon already plays an important role in maintaining Ryanair’s fleet, and this expansion will create hundreds of highly skilled engineering jobs while training the next generation of aircraft mechanics in Ireland,” Eddie Wilson said.
“We welcome Enterprise Ireland’s support for this investment, which will help deliver more high-skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term aviation growth in the Shannon region,” he said.
“Together with our new Dublin hangar, this investment demonstrates Ryanair’s long-term commitment to making Ireland a leading European centre for aviation maintenance and engineering excellence,” he added.
Shannon Airport Group CEO Ray O’Driscoll said that Ryanair’s proposal to invest is a powerful endorsement of Shannon Airport, its aviation ecosystem and the wider region.
“From the birthplace of aircraft leasing, Shannon has grown into a global hub for aviation services and engineering. Today, Shannon Airport and the adjacent Shannon Airport Business Park together support Ireland’s largest aviation cluster, with almost 100 companies operating across the campus,” Mr O’Driscoll said.
“The scale of Ryanair’s proposal reflects the depth of aviation expertise, engineering capability and talent that has developed here over decades. We are proud of our long-standing relationship with Ryanair and look forward to supporting its ambitions at Shannon,” he added.
Enterprise Ireland CEO Jenny Melia said that Ryanair’s announcement of 400 new jobs is a strong endorsement of Ireland as a location for long-term investment and growth.
“As one of Ireland’s most successful global companies, Ryanair continues to expand its international footprint while reinforcing its commitment to its Irish operations,” she said.
Ms Melia said the company’s investment in skills and training in Shannon is particularly significant, supporting the development of specialist talent and helping to address critical skills needs across the aviation sector.
“This investment further strengthens Ireland’s position as a centre of excellence for aviation,” she stated.
She said that “ambitious” companies like Ryanair exemplify Enterprise Ireland’s vision – that Irish globally focused companies will be the primary driver of our economy.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said today’s news from Ryanair demonstrates the continued success of the company’s performance internationally.
“Ryanair’s announcement today is evidence of that Irish multinational ambition in action, and we are delighted to support them on their Shannon expansion plans to include the establishment of a dedicated Ryanair Engineering Academy,” Mr Burke added.
