By Owen Ryan SHANNON Airport will remain open on Friday morning, after the High Court granted an injunction preventing SIPTU from going ahead with a planned four-hour work stoppage. The work stoppage had been due to take place between 5am and 9am and SIPTU had organised it due to an ongoing dispute over a €780 million hole in the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme. It had been set to cause chaos, not just at the Clare airport, but also at Dublin and Cork. Both the Dublin Airport Authority and Ryanair challenged SIPTU in the High Court and on Wednesday evening, the Court found in their favour. While Shannon was not a party to the case, there was an agreement that the Court’s decision would also stand for the Clare airport. Aer Lingus was not involved in the High Court case either, but it is understood that its workers who were also due to carry out a similar work stoppage will …
Read More »Shannon launches cheap parking option
SHANNON Airport passengers are about to enjoy the country’s cheapest online airport car parking as the airport has launched a new Park4Less service to go with the commencement of nine new destinations this summer. Park4Less is open for booking online at www.shannonairport.ie from this week. The Park4Less car park will be located at the former Long-Term 4 Car Park, adjacent to the Air Traffic Control tower at the airport. Announcing the new offer, Brian Aherne, Head of Commercial at Shannon Airport, said that the decision to introduce the lower fares online option was in response to customer feedback. “We continually seek feedback from passengers to help us improve our overall service and as a result we are delighted to introduce our new cheaper online car-parking option. We are looking forward to a busy summer season with nine new destinations and are keen to ensure that our passengers have a great start to their holiday,” he said. Payment for the Park4Less …
Read More »Cheaper parking for Shannon Airport
By Owen Ryan CAR parking charges at airports can be a real nuisance of a cost, particularly as the effects are only felt after returning, but Shannon is about to take steps to take some of the sting out of it for its customers. At the Shannon Chamber business breakfast in Dromoland on Wednesday morning Airport CEO Neil Pakey said he was planning to take a leaf out of the book of Ryanair Deputy Chief Executive Michael Cawley, who was addressing the attendance. “In line with Michael’s model we’re going to be introducing a Park for Less Car Park not far from the airport, which will be cheaper than the present car parking charges.” He said the airport are responding to what people have told them and they’re hoping for a good response once it opens. “It’s one reason someone might traipse across the country to get to another airport. We’re reflecting on it and we’re going to launch …
Read More »New Shannon flights need support
GETTING new routes into Shannon is a welcome development but is but one part of the equation, according to Shannon Chamber’s chief executive. Helen Downes. Ms Downes was addressing a Chamber-hosted business breakfast at Dromoland Castle Hotel this Wednesday, at which Ryanair’s chief operating officer and deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley, was the keynote speaker. “In operating nine new routes at Shannon from April, Ryanair is providing a pipeline of seats which need to be filled; it’s now up to the tourism and business sectors, and the general public, to take responsibility for filling those seats, and showing their commitment to Shannon,” Ms Downes said. The breakfast briefing, hosted by Shannon Chamber and sponsored by Shannon Airport and Shannon Heritage was attended by Chamber members and their business associates.
Read More »Kilrush RNLI put on standby
KILRUSH RNLI was put on standby for a short period this Monday following a report that an aircraft was experiencing difficulties on its approach to Shannon Airport. The volunteer lifeboat crew was contacted by Valentia Coast Guard at 11.50am and made aware that the plane, described as an air to air refueller, was experiencing engine trouble as it made its way across the Atlantic. John Lamb, Kilrush RNLI Lifeboat operations manager requested the station’s volunteer crew to launch and remain on standby. Within minutes, crew members were geared up and the lifeboat was launched. Valentia Coast Guard was informed and the crew remained on the water awaiting instructions. At 12.35pm, the plane made a safe landing at Shannon Airport. The Coast Guard requested the lifeboat and the crew to stand down. Speaking following the call out, Kilrush RNLI helm, Pauline Dunleavy said, “Thankfully, the aircraft was able to make a safe landing this afternoon. It is at times like these …
Read More »Shannon years ahead of schedule-Varadkar
By Owen Ryan SHANNON Airport’s recovery has progressed much more quickly than he expected when he moved to separate it from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has acknowledged. On a visit to the airport, he said the fact that Shannon had moved into profit in 2013 (it was understood to be losing well over €100,000 a week in 2012) had surprised him. “To be brutally honest, as minister I really didn’t think the airport would manage that in year one. I thought it would have taken maybe three years for that to be done, so that’s one of the areas where we’re ahead of schedule really. It does mean that the airport is in a stronger position now to invest and to do things like build new hangars. Obviously, if you’re making losses you’re eating into your reserves and it’s harder to borrow. If you’re turning a profit, it’s much easier.” Mr Varadkar met with Shannon …
Read More »Prospect of industrial action at Shannon Airport
Owen Ryan WHILE Minister Leo Varadkar was in Shannon last week to laud the airport’s recovery, there were some dark clouds gathering as its workers, along with their colleagues in Dublin and Cork airports, have all voted for industrial action. It’s because of a €780 million hole in the Irish Aviation SuperAnnuation Scheme, and Aer Lingus employees, also affected by it, have voted for industrial action too. Commenting on the situation, the Minister said; “It’s really for them (the pension scheme Trustees) to come up with revised proposals and I really think its incumbent on the unions to see and study those proposals before going out on strike.” He said he expects more twists and turns before any solution is found. “I think it’s fair to say there’s probably a few more chapters yet in this dispute and I’d very much call on the unions to wait for the proposals from the trustees and to study them before inconveniencing passengers …
Read More »Shannon’s hangar expansion programme
SHANNON Airport’s decision to expand its programme of hangar development has the potential to lead to significant growth in the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector as well as the composites industry throughout the Mid-West Region, Senator Tony Mulcahy has stressed. The Shannon-based senator was reacting to the announcement by Shannon Airport that it is to embark on a programme of new hangar development after achieving full occupancy of its existing capacity. He said the new development will help Shannon to position itself as “a one-stop-shop for all airline needs”, including use of hangars to house aircraft and pilot-training, but primarily for the MRO sector. “It is clear that the future viability of Shannon Airport and surrounding businesses cannot be justified through passenger growth alone, and that the development of ancillary aviation business is key. “The level of existing use of aviation-specific hangars along with the planned construction of a new hangar means that Shannon Airport is working towards establishing …
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