Shannon to Edinburgh link restored

Aer Lingus Regional is to restore flights from Shannon to Edinburgh from March next year, move viewed as a major boost for the airport and region.

The new service, which will be operated for Aer Lingus Regional by Stobart Air, will see six flights weekly operate year-round from March 28 between Shannon and the Scottish capital, which is the second most popular tourism city in the UK after London.

It will generate an extra 35,000 in seat capacity for Shannon in 2016, rising to 45,000 per annum from 2017.

Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey said, “We are seeking to add to our schedule on an ongoing basis. Edinburgh has been one of the services at the top of our list and Aer Lingus Regional’s announcement that it is to restore the service next year is really good news for Shannon and our passengers.

“Edinburgh has proven a hugely popular service here in the past and in terms of feedback from the public, it is one of the routes we had most requests for over the past number of months.”

Martin Saxton, Stobart Air chief commercial officer, said, “The new route is a direct response to the strong demand among business people and holidays makers in the west of Ireland looking for easy access to Edinburgh, one of Europe’s most popular weekend destinations.”