First arrival at aviation centre

BUILDING an international aviation services centre was one of the priorities identified for Shannon upon its separation from the Dublin Airport Authority.

 

This week it has been confirmed that the multinational aerospace service provider North American Aircraft Services (NAAS) is to create a new strategic corporate headquarters at Shannon, to serve its client base in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The announcement was hailed as very significant by Shannon Airport Authority chair, Rose Hynes. “The establishment of NAAS is the first aviation business to locate at Shannon since the separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA. It marks a historic milestone in our bid to develop an International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) at Shannon and is a very welcome addition to the existing cluster of well-established, high calibre, aviation industries.”

Based in Texas, NAAS provides specialised aircraft maintenance services worldwide, including fuel systems maintenance, field services and aircraft on ground support, fuel cell repair and overhaul and line maintenance.
Ray Raoufi, managing director of NAAS, said that they would be in Shannon for the long haul. “We are here for the long term, it’s a one-way ticket.”
He also said they would begin relatively slowly in Ireland. “In Shannon we are starting gradually, we are building up our hangar, doing training for personnel we will employ and showing them the systems.”

Mr Raoufi said that negotiations with Shannon Development had been very positive.
“They were helpful, everyone was great. We’ve been in Ireland for five or six months on and off and I’d recommend it to anyone.”
He said their hangar at Shannon is about 5,000 square feet in size.

NAAS has also acquired Sligo-based specialist aviation company, Usher Aviation Ltd, and that company’s founder, Barry Usher will act as general manager of NAAS.
Meanwhile, US Airways is to extend its Shannon service until October 4. It had been due to run from May 22 to September 3.

A spokesperson for Shannon said the airport has performed well since it became an independent entity.
“The extension of the US Airways service, before it even begins, is another statement of confidence in the Shannon transatlantic market and the popularity of this route. Between 2003 and 2009 some 320,000 passengers were carried on this route at Shannon so there is most definitely strong demand and US Airways, we are glad to see, are benefiting from this.

“It’s been a really good start to life as an independent entity. We will have a 25% increase in the number of seats on transatlantic services this summer alone, thanks to the commencement of this service, a new United Airlines Chicago service, plus the early return of Aer Lingus on Boston and New York last month and the return of Delta, also to New York,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson outlined how Shannon has also made major early gains in Europe and the UK, with new services to sun destinations in the Algarve and Alicante, with Aer Lingus and Ryanair respectively, as well as a brand-new Flybe service to Glasgow.

Ryanair is also adding an extra flight weekly to both its Palma and Malaga services during the peak summer months.
“We are delighted to be already growing the choice for those wishing to travel to and from Shannon this year and our intention is to continue in this vein going forward,” the spokesperson concluded.