SHANNON Airport’s recovery continued throughout August and September, with passenger numbers showing a 22% and 17% increase respectively on the same months in 2013.
The biggest percentage growth on August and September of last year was on Shannon’s European network, which had a 73% rise in August and one of 51% in September. This was largely due to eight new European services being introduced.
Transatlantic numbers were up 9% in August and 11% in September, while numbers travelling between Shannon and the UK increased by 5% in August and 3% in September, year on year.
Welcoming the figures, airport Chief Executive Neil Pakey said, “What is most pleasing is we are achieving growth across all our markets. Last year we saw the biggest gains on transatlantic but this year the biggest increase has been in European services, with growth also on our UK network. All of this is particularly important this year with the launch of the Wild Atlantic Way. Shannon is the only airport on the Atlantic seaboard that services Ireland’s three main markets, Europe, the UK and the US, so it is the key gateway airport for the Wild Atlantic Way. It is good news all around that we are achieving these growth levels this year.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.