Tag Archives: Neil Pakey

CHIEF Executive of Clare County Council Tom Coughlan is set to come under pressure for answers about the non-renewal of Neil Pakey’s contract at Shannon Group and the non-progression of the Lynx Cargo facility at the airport. Mr Coughlan is a member of the board of Shannon Group and at next Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, the six Shannon councillors will look for standing orders to be suspended for a discussion of the two issues. Just before Christmas it was announced that Mr Pakey’s contract would not be extended beyond next June. Also, in a letter to Clare County Council last month, Shannon Group confirmed that the Lynx Cargo project, which it was once claimed could deliver a huge amount of local jobs, is not going to proceed. On Wednesday, Independent Councillor PJ Ryan, who is chair of the Shannon Municipal District, said there is a need for information on why Mr Pakey is not being retained. “What we …

Neil Pakey is leaving Shannon Group next summer, after its board opted not to renew his contract and Shannon Chamber has expressed disappointment at the Scot’s departure. Chamber president Kevin Thompstone said, “Neil has not just seen the connection between the airport and the region but made and reinforced that connection. He has contributed and delivered many innovative undertakings, which have benefited the airport, the region at large and the entire western seaboard.” Mr Thompstone, who served as chief executive of Shannon Development for eight years, added, “He has a track record of delivering for Shannon and the region. Shannon’s loss of this experience will be somewhere else’s gain.” December was a month of ups and downs for Mr Pakey, as days before it was announced that he would not have his contract renewed at Shannon, he received a Limerick person of the month award. Councillor PJ Ryan, cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, said he too was very surprised …

SHANNON Group CEO Neil Pakey will not have his contract renewed when it expires next June, it was announced on Tuesday. While Shannon Airport has returned to growth since separation from the Dublin Airport Authority in 2013, this year the increase in passenger numbers is set to be relatively minor, in the order of 4%. Shannon will only reach about two-thirds of the 2021 target of having 2.5million passengers. Indeed, a target of 2.3m passengers by 2017 is very unlikely to be met. It has also lost a handful of routes in recent times, while competing airports have had more positive developments. There is shock in some quarters that Mr Pakey’s contract is not being renewed, as Shannon Group (which also includes Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon Heritage) has frequently expressed satisfaction with the progress made during his tenure. On Tuesday afternoon, Clare TD Timmy Dooley said the decision by the board of Shannon Group raises a number of serious …

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, …

A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition capturing some of the golden moments and world famous faces that visited Shannon Airport has just opened. Closing the curtain on a year of celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of the first commercial transatlantic flight into Shannon, or any land-based Irish airport, some 64 images, dating from the 1950s up to now, have been placed in a permanent exhibition on the walls of the airport’s transit lounge. The exhibition, which was officially launched by Shannon Group chairman Rose Hynes, reflects the international standing of Shannon as a global aviation crossroads as it includes some of the world’s best known personalities of politics, stage, screen and sport. Famous faces and events captured in the exhibition include every US president from presidents John F Kennedy to Barack Obama; other global political and religious leaders such as Nelson Mandela, President Mikhail Gorbachev, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Cuban President Fidel Castrol, Pope John Paul II and the Dali Lama. Shannon Group CEO, …

Aer Lingus has given Shannon Airport a boost with 55,000 additional seats on services for summer 2016. The increases are to Heathrow (35,000 seats), Faro (10,000 seats) and Malaga (10,000 seats). This is in addition to their 20% increase in capacity announced earlier this year for both Heathrow and Lanzarote, which kicks in for the 2015 winter season and will see 25,000 extra seats on London and 1,300 seats to Lanzarote. Aer Lingus’ for summer 2016 plan spell good news for people seeking a summer sun holiday, as the airline responds to market demand by increasing services to Faro from three to four flights weekly and Malaga from two to three flights weekly. Shannon Airport CEO Neil Pakey said, “This is a really positive move for what are very popular services from Shannon. London Heathrow is our busiest service and the increased capacity on the larger A320 aircraft here is very much in response to demand. In all, Aer Lingus …

Shannon Heritage, Ireland’s largest operator of tourist attractions and part of Shannon Group plc, has announced a strong performance in the first three quarters of 2015 with visitors number at one of its flagship attractions, Bunratty Castle up by 14%. To the end of September 2015, key attractions in the Shannon Heritage portfolio showed an increase in visitor numbers. Bunratty Folk Park visits were up 14% on 2014, with King John’s Castle experiencing growth of 8%. In Dublin, the Shannon Heritage run Malahide Castle and Gardens saw a 15% increase in visits. Market research indicates that visitors from the US and Europe were up on 2014, whilst there was also significant increase in the amount of corporate events held in Shannon Heritage locations compared to last year. Speaking about the figures, Shannon Heritage CEO John Ruddle was delighted with the performance so far this year. “With 2014 having been the strongest year since 2007, the challenge was to keep the …

Shannon Airport’s upward swing continues, with five percent growth achieved in passenger numbers last month compared to May 2014. The biggest growth market was the US, the highest spending market for inbound tourism, with an 18% increase across the airport’s US network, which has services to Boston, Chicago, JFK New York, Newark and Philadelphia – in May. Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey said, “We are having a really good start to the summer season again. The airport is busy, there’s a great buzz here, we are seeing more inbound tourists and the Irish economy is continuing to rebound so outbound passengers are also on the rise. All this is reflected in growth last month. “From an inbound perspective the US is a hugely important market and the 18% growth in May will be well received in tourism related businesses across the region. We are also up by 15% in terms of European passengers and 3% on London, the single biggest …