Tag Archives: Shannon airport

International Airline Group (IAG) will consider options, including Aer Lingus codeshare and accepting customers originating from Shannon that could enhance the existing all-business British Airways two daily service from Heathrow to JFK via Shannon, Transport Minister, Paschal Donohoe said in the Dáil this morning Wednesday. In opening the debate on the proposed sale of the Government’s 25% stake in Aer Lingus, Minister Donohoe said the airline’s Shannon flights to Boston and New York are expected to be strengthened as a result of the company becoming part of the North Atlantic Joint Business. “Aer Lingus support for existing American Airlines flights to Philadelphia will provide opportunities for additional capacity and increased connectivity to the US,” he said. According to Ministe Donohoe, “The financial advisers have considered a range of different valuation methodologies which they consider to be relevant. The [Inter-depertmental]Steering Group has concluded that a price of €2.50 is acceptable. The Dáil is being asked to approve in principle the disposal …

PRINCE Charles departed Shannon Airport this morning following his and the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Bowles’ visit to the West of Ireland expressing his delight with the two days. Boarding the jet for Belfast at Shannon, Prince Charles uttered three words that summed up his experience:  “special, very special,” he stated. On hand to greet Prince Charles before his departure were Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald, Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan, Shannon Group Chairman Rose Hynes, Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey, Irish Ambassador to the UK Dan Mulhall and Clare County Council Deputy Mayor Joe Cooney. After speaking briefly with the royal couple ahead of their departure, Justice and Equality Minister Fitzgerald said that the visit had further strengthened relationships between Ireland and the UK.   “They said they really enjoyed their visit, both of them. The Duchess said they were very sad to leave. Prince Charles said there were a few more counties took visit and that he …

Shannon Airport’s upward trend got another boost today with the announcement by Aer Lingus that it is to increase capacity on Heathrow by 20%. The airline will restore the Airbus 320 to the service, replacing the A319, which will add 25,000 seats for the winter season alone. Welcoming the announcement, Shannon Group plc CEO, Neil Pakey said, “We have been in communication with Aer Lingus for some time to restore the A320 on the service and are delighted that they have done this. “We have 35 destinations across 11 countries this year and this additional capacity on Heathrow is a real early summer season boost for us and our passengers. It endorses Aer Lingus’ commitment to the region and the airport, following on from their expansion of the Shannon Boston service from a 757 to a 767 aircraft from June to September this year. Mr Pakey said the increase in Heathrow capacity will give Shannon an additional 25,000 seats for …

Shannon’s International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) is launching a major international campaign designed to showcase Shannon’s aviation facilities and attract new business opportunities to the region. An IASC stand at the European Business and Corporate Aviation Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva next week marks the start of the campaign.. EBACE is the largest business and corporate aviation show in Europe and one of the biggest in the world. It brings together aircraft manufacturers, operators and suppliers. IASC is presenting Shannon’s capabilities for business aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance providers, and in particular is highlighting the benefits of the brand new Irish ‘EJ’ aircraft register for corporate aircraft, which IASC is partnering with the Irish Aviation Authority to promote. The business aviation sector contributes some €20 billion per year in gross value added to European economies, and supports 160,000 jobs across Europe. In Europe alone there are over 3,300 corporate and business aircraft, 80% of them flying for governments or large companies. …

China’ Premier Li Keqiang received a warm welcome at Shannon Airport on Sunday at at the start of a two-day visit to Ireland. Premier Li and his wife Professor Cheng Hong were greeted on arrival by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan; Shannon Group chairman Rose Hynes; CEO Neil Pakey, Irish Ambassador to China, Paul Kavanagh,;Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland Jianguo Xu and Deputy Pat Breen. Premier Li, accompanied on the visit by eight Chinese government ministers, travelled on to Headford to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny on at local farm. Later they had a series of meeting at Ashford Castle. f Minister Noonan said, “It’s a very important visit because Premier Li is on the way to an extensive visit in South America and as part of that they have decided to stop over in Ireland. We are particularly pleased that he has chosen to stop over in Shannon. “We would also like to …

The success of the inaugural Bank of Ireland Runway Night Run last year has been reflected in this year’s event being fully booked within just 36 hours of being opened for registration. A total of 1,700 places for the June 19 midnight event at Shannon Airport were up for grabs from Thursday last at midday but were entirely booked by late Friday night. Shannon Airport has, as a result, closed off what is already an extensive waiting list for the event. It is now exploring further capacity options and will provide an update on Tuesday next, May 19 on the airport website www.shannonairport.ie and its Facebook account www.facebook.com/Shannon.Airport.Official. All proceeds from the event are going to Shannon Group plc’s chosen charities for 2015 – TLC4CF (Tipperary Limerick Clare for Cystic Fibrosis) and Milford Care Centre, Limerick.

PROFITABILITY at Shannon Airport “improved considerably” in 2014, a year in which passenger numbers also rose by 17%. That’s one of the messages from Shannon Group’s 2014 annual report, along with a commitment from Shannon Group chief executive, Neil Pakey, to correct what he called “historic underinvestment” at the airport and other facilities under the remit of Shannon Group plc. In the annual report, Mr Pakey outlined that “profitability of the airport has also improved considerably in 2014, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of €4.6 million, an increase of 34% on 2013. This increase in profit was achieved in part through passenger growth and new routes, but also by managing cost efficiencies.” Mr Pakey added that work on lowering costs will continue this year, as will capital investment at the airport. “We will continue to address the operating cost base in 2015 and identify further cost efficiencies to ensure our sustainability and enable us to compete …

EXPORTERS to the US are to benefit from the launch of Ireland’s only direct all-cargo air service to North America at Shannon.  Turkish Airlines has been granted permission to carry air cargo from Shannon to Chicago, starting immediately. In March, Turkish Airlines began making refuelling stops at Shannon for the first time. They will now operate a weekly Shannon-Chicago service on Fridays, through their cargo subsidiary Turkish Cargo, boosting options for Irish exporters of all sizes. The service will be operated with Turkish Cargo’s modern fuel-efficient Airbus A330F aircraft, which is the world’s most modern mid-size freighter and is capable of transporting cargo from high-value consumer goods to industrial equipment to thoroughbred horses. After the separation from the DAA, Shannon Group identified the development of an air freight hub as a major opportunity, as much of Irish air cargo exports now travel by truck to Britain because of a lack of suitable direct flights. Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey said, …