Passenger numbers move in the right direction – Hynes

PASSENGER numbers at Shannon are moving in the right direction for the first time in years, Shannon Airport Authority chairperson Rose Hynes revealed on Monday, even before this week’s Aer Lingus announcement.

Shannon’s decline has been steep and dramatic since the highs of 2006-07, but Ms Hynes told an event attended by Minister Richard Bruton and many representatives of aviation businesses, that the rot has finally stopped.

It’s been six months since Shannon got out from what some called the ‘dead hand’ of the Dublin Airport Authority, but its long-awaited amalgamation with Shannon Development still hasn’t taken place and on Monday Ms Hynes also called for the required legislation to be introduced ASAP.

Regarding the resumption of passenger growth, she said; “Our immediate priority is passenger growth and the development of new routes. We have launched a number of new routes in the last six months, the last two being to Chicago and Philadelphia.

“We’re seeing passenger growth for the first time in five years; that’s important; critical. It’s something that we predicted would happen, but it’s not easy.it’s hard to grow it and I’d ask everyone to really get behind Shannon because it’s collaboration between the lot of us that’s actually going to make this work.”
Regarding the amalgamation of functions between the airport and Shannon Development, she said it’s important that it takes place quickly, while she pointed out a long wait has a very negative impact on staff. Ms Hynes called for the Government to introduce the required legislation promptly.

“Work is ongoing in relation to the restructuring of Shannon Development and I understand the legislation to implement that is due in the autumn. That legislation needs to happen as soon as possible and I know the minister understands and is aware of the urgency of this. It is critically important for this region that legislation happens as soon as possible in the autumn and that we see the completion of the merger of Shannon Development and Shannon Airport. That’s important for the businesses that are here, for the people that are here and for Shannon Airport and Shannon Development. Sometimes the people get forgotten about but it’s important that people in the entities know what’s their future, what they are going to be doing.”
Speaking to The Clare Champion on the day, Minister Bruton said certain delays are inevitable but much has been done on the amalgamation of functions.

“An awful lot of work has been done and most of the restructuring has been completed but, as Rose says, the last piece of the jigsaw is the legislation. That tends to be slower. You have to go to the lawyers and get them to draw up the sections in all their legalese but I think we’ve put in place a lot of the structures that can allow the business work to move on. The legal piece has to be put in place but I’m delighted with the progress. If you look at restructuring historically, this has been much more rapid than other restructurings,” Minister Bruton said