When the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) pre-inspection station at Shannon became operational in last August, the facilities involved were only made available to passengers on scheduled airlines.
Now that legal and other formalities have been ironed out, the agreement between Irish and US authorities to extend the service to corporate jets and air cargo business opens up a timely new stream of revenue for the airport.
While welcoming the news, Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen has called for follow-up action on two fronts. He wants the Government to provide funding of €200,000 a year for a three-year promotion campaign aimed at the corporate jets sector.
“While there was a substantial fall of more than 6.5% in corporate jet movements across the Atlantic in 2009, a recovery in that traffic segment is already on the way. Europe Control is forecasting a rise of 1.7% in private jet traffic in the coming year and for that growth to rise by a further 3.2% in 2011,” said Deputy Breen, whose appointment last year to a high-level review of European Union aviation has placed him at the centre of aviation policy.
Deputy Breen wants the promotional budget to be put in place as quickly as possible so that the expected surge in private jet through Shannon can help shore up finances as the airport heads into what is going to be an exceptionally tough year.
A fortnight ago, Mid-West Task Force chairman Denis Brosnan acknowledged 2009 was “an awful year” for Shannon. Passenger figures last year fell by 12% and followed on a decline of the same dimensions in 2008. The news is even worse this year as Ryanair prepares to pull out around three-quarters of the services that have propped up Shannon for the past five years and while Aer Lingus’ plans remain unclear, it is certain that seats available on US routes into Shannon will be down.
Joe Buckley, who has been entrusted with the CBP corporate jet and cargo development, has already been actively selling the pre-inspection advantage since last year but there is widespread agreement that an intensive marketing campaign must be launched.
“It would be completely catastrophic if this huge opportunity for Shannon is squandered through lack of marketing funding,” Deputy Breen warned.
Also advocating a high-profile campaign is the Atlantic Way alliance of key business forces extending from the western seaboard deep into Munster and south-west Leinster.
Brian O’Connell, the new chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority, which provides him with a seat on the parent Dublin Airport Authority, is Atlantic Way chairman. The developer of Westpark at Shannon Free Zone wants all 500 constituent bodies involved with the Atlantic Way to lend their influence to promoting of the benefits to private jets in particular. He wants Shannon Airport to put on VIP facilities as a bonus attraction for corporate jets.
Deputy Breen is also lining up alongside Atlantic Way and the Mid-West Task Force in stepping up the pressure on the Government to provide €7 million investment, which would capitalise on the CBP facilities and establish Shannon as a hub for global cargo movements. 
A partnership agreement between Shannon and the Lynx Cargo Group has been in place since last year. “The next step is for the Government to give the go-ahead for the €7 million investment required. That will build the necessary airside infrastructure and the Lynx Group will do the rest,” he said.
The Fine Gael TD is now urging the Irish and American authorities to move forward with all speed in extending the CBP advantages to cargo flights.
“I believe that the United States is very favourably disposed to the inclusion of cargo and I was most encouraged by the positive response I received on the matter when I spoke with the new US ambassador to Ireland, Dan Rooney, shortly after his arrival here last July,” he said.