Tag Archives: Shannon airport

Shannon Airport has suspended online booking for its Santa Flights until at least Monday after the “unprecedented volume of traffic” caused the site to crash earlier today (Friday). A spokesperson for the airport apologised “for the inconvenience caused” adding that they were “working hard to rectify the situation”. Last year was the first year of the Santa Flights initiative which offers children and families the chance to fly from the airport with Santa transferring from his sleigh to board the aircraft some 15,000ft above sea-level during the 40 minute journeys. Booking opened at 2pm on Friday but many parents were left disappointed as demand caused the booking system to crash. Initial problems on the Shannon Airport website resulted in an announcement on the its Facebook page that bookings could be made instead on the Shannon Heritage site. There were then technical difficulties with this system. Hundreds of people took to Facebook to voice their dissatisfaction. Some said they couldn’t access …

STOBART Air has announced that it will end its Shannon based services from January 5. The airline currently operates routes to Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh. While it had been known that Stobart was closing its Shannon base there had been hopes that it would continue operating services to the Clare airport, even though aircraft or staff wouldn’t be based there. Some weeks ago the Shannon staff had been offered the option of a transfer or redundancy. Stobart Air has said that passengers with bookings for flights post January 5 will be contacted by the airline in the coming days and will be rebooked on Aer Lingus flights from other airports or given a full refund. A spokesperson for Stobart Air said, “This is a regrettable decision and not one taken lightly. Shannon does not fit with our current strategic plan, and we have to make the right long term choices for the airline. “We regret any adverse impact this may …

Transport and business in the Mid-West are joining forces in an effort to establish the Limerick-Shannon Gateway as a strategic freight logistics hub, with direct connections to some of the world’s global logistics hubs. The new regional freight transport forum is the result of the EU co-funded Weastflows INTERREG IVB EU Project, which aims to improve and enhance freight logistics in North West Europe, as well as encourage a move from an overreliance on road haulage to the more sustainable modes of rail, short-sea shipping and river transportation. Limerick City and County Council, one of the 22 partners in the EU project, and Limerick and Shannon Chambers of Commerce hosted two sessions in The Strand Hotel in Limerick and Westpark, Shannon on the issue. The events saw freight and logistics providers, four infrastructure providers, public sector agencies and export generators sign up to the establishment of a new regional freight forum. The forum, the secretariat of which will be jointly …

Shannon Airport has been praised by recently appointed US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin O’Malley for its key role in supporting the continuing and strong US multi-national presence in the West of Ireland. Speaking on Tuesday, while on an official visit to the airport, where he met members of its executive and board, Ambassador O’Malley said that having a vibrant airport on the western seaboard with direct links to the US is critical for shared prosperity between the region and multi-nationals. Ambassador O’Malley said, “Literally all of the businesses, the US multi-nationals and those from other countries that are situated in this region, need an airport that can service their connectivity requirements. “These are large companies doing a great job in Ireland, employing Irish people and participating in helping both sides of the Atlantic share in a great prosperity. Shannon helps sustain that through its transatlantic services as without them there would be no direct access from the US into the …

Government plans to create thousands of jobs in a potentially lucrative business at Shannon Airport hang in the balance, after the European Commission vetoed a special tax incentive scheme designed to attract major international investors. The Government has been forced to start new negotiations with EU authorities to try to come up with an amended tax break plan, which was a flagship project that was earmarked to generate thousands of jobs, by facilitating the construction of aircraft maintenance hangars and ancillary facilities in Shannon. The decision has been described as a “disappointing set-back” and a “serious blow” by Fianna Fáil Deputy Timmy Dooley, who hopes efforts will continue to ensure the revised plan will be successful. However, Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen believes this move does not jeopardise Shannon Airport’s efforts to develop an international aviation centre and will, in fact, “probably put Shannon in a stronger position”. Deputy Dooley expressed concern the revised tax incentive package would be much …

Shannon Airport’s strong momentum across 2014 has continued into the final month of the autumn, with passenger numbers for October showing a 28% increase on the same period twelve months ago. The biggest gains in passengers through the terminal were again on European services, which were up by 63% on the same period 12 months ago thanks to a range of nine attractive new routes that were launched for the summer season (April through to end of October). Eight of those were on the European market, which resulted in a 111% increase (from 20,347 to 42,950) in passengers to and from the continent last month compared to October 2013. Transatlantic passengers were up by 15% (from 23,511 to 27,108) thanks to the increased frequency across New York and Boston services this year, with Shannon’s biggest market, the UK, up by 6% (from 61,681 to 65,243). Welcoming the growth, Airport CEO Neil Pakey said, “It’s been a really great summer season …

Gardai have confirmed that Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer with the band The Cranberries, was admitted to hospital at 11am today. The Limerick singer was arrested shortly before 6am this morning in connection with an alleged assault on board an Aer Lingus flight from New York’s JFK airport to Shannon Airport. It is understood that the alleged incident occurred shortly before landing at Shannon Airport in the Business class section of the plane. Upon arrival at Shannon, Ms O’Riordan was arrested, but during her arrest she is alleged to have lashed out at a garda. She was questioned this Monday morning at Shannon Garda Station but was transferred to hospital at approximately 11am having been seen by a doctor. Gardai are awaiting an assessment from the hospital before continuing their questioning of the Cranberries singer.

THE Lead singer of Irish rock group The Cranberries, Dolores O’Riordan, is currently being detained at Shannon Garda Station having been arrested at Shannon Airport this morning in connection with an alleged assault on board a flight. The singer was travelling on a flight from New York’s JFK airport and was arrested after it made its scheduled arrival at Shannon airport at 5.45am this morning (Monday). It is alleged that Ms O’Riordan assaulted a female air hostess during the flight and subsequently in the course of her arrest it is further alleged that she assaulted a male garda. An Aer Lingus air hostess received injuries to her leg during the flight and is presently being treated at University Hospital Limerick. The Limerick singer can be detained at Shannon Garda Station for a maximum of 12 hours.