Tag Archives: Shannon airport

This Friday is a yet another red letter day in the history of Shannon Airport. The Shannon Group plc has  been formally established by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe. The new company will be a key conduit for growth across the West of Ireland and beyond, its chairman Rose Hynes stated. She said that the four strategic business units that make up the Shannon Group will co-exist within the group, elevating the business into a single entity of significant regional and national importance. The Shannon Group plc brings together: · Shannon Airport, the only airport on the Atlantic seaboard serving all three key markets – the US, UK and Europe – and which has already achieved significant growth following its establishment as an independent company in January 2013 · Shannon Commercial Enterprises Limited, trading as Shannon Commercial Properties, which includes the Shannon Free Zone and a significant property portfolio across the Shannon region · One of Ireland’s …

Recently appointed Transport Minister,  Paschal Donohoe, made his first  official visit to Shannon Airport on Tuesday evening  where he was welcomed by chairman, Rose Hynes and CEO, Neil Pakey. The Minister was in Shannon as part of a day-long visit to Clare to launch Bus Éireann’s enhanced services to the Cliffs of Moher, Clare coast and the airport. Shannon Group Chairman Rose Hynes said, “We are very pleased to have been able to welcome Minister Donohoe to Shannon and brief him with regard to the progress we are making and the opportunities that lie ahead for Shannon. The minister was keen to hear about our plans and very much also recognises the key role it is already playing in the ongoing economic recovery of the region.” In welcoming  Minister Donohoe and  Bus Éireann CEO, Martin Nolan, Mr Pakey said, “We look forward to working with Minister Donohoe to ensure the momentum already achieved here since the airport achieved independence in January of last year is continued. We recognise the key role …

Ryanair’s announcement of a new flight from Manchester to Shannon Airport this winter, which will help boost tourism to Co Clare and the West of Ireland from the all-important British market, according to Tourism Ireland. Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “Today’s announcement is more good news for tourism to the West of Ireland this year. We already work very closely with Ryanair and we look forward to co-operating with them to maximise the promotion of this new flight to Shannon. As an island, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in visitor numbers.” Britain is the largest single market for tourism to the island of Ireland; last year, we welcomed approximately 3.8 million British visitors, who contributed some €1.2 billion in revenue to the economy. Niall Gibbons continued: “Great Britain is the largest market for tourism to Ireland and we are really pleased to see strong growth …

ASL Aviation Group has signed a partnership with Shannon Airport which will see Shannon become a new base for ASL’s Hercules aircraft operations. ASL  plans to initially base two L-100 aircraft in Shannon, to be used on missions ranging from oil-spill response to humanitarian aid.  The Hercules’ crews and support staff will be based in Shannon where Air Contractors, an ASL Group company, already has its own maintenance base. The decision follows the signing of a Letter of Intent by ASL Aviation Groupwith aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin this week to order up to 10 LM-100J commercialHercules freighter aircraft. The intention is to progressively transitionthese new aircraft into the fleet, replacing the older models. “We’ve long relied on our L-100s to deliver results that no other aircraft can produce,” said Hugh Flynn, chief executive, ASL Aviation Group. “We take pride in our L-100 fleet, and we eagerly look forward to our future as LM-100J operators. We are also very happy to …

CONTROVERSIAL TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly were arrested earlier today at Shannon Airport. A spokesman for peace group ShannonWatch told the Clare Champion that the two TDs had been looking to “inspect” two US military aircraft that were airside. He said the arrest had been around midday. A police spokesman confirmed that the TDs were arrested and brought to Shannon Garda Station. The two TDs have been strong opponents of the US military use of Shannon and have been supporters of activist Margaretta D’Arcy, who was released from prison last week, following a previous incursion onto the Shannon runway.  

SHANNON Airport enjoyed a great first half of 2014 with 16 service enhancements, including nine new Ryanair routes for the summer season, resulting in a 15% increase in terminal passenger numbers, latest figures show. A break down of figures revealed at Shannon Airport-Ryanair Travel Clinic in Bunratty to promote the airline’s winter schedule, complete with five additional services on last year’s schedule, showed that passenger numbers on European routes have enjoyed a 54% uplift in the first half of the year. Overall terminal passenger numbers through Shannon in the first half of the year were 653,894, up from 568,133 in the same period in 2013. As well as European figures improving, there was a five per cent increase in the number of Shannon-UK passengers while transatlantic numbers were up by 11%. Shannon Airport Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Murphy said; “We are really happy with the passenger numbers so far this year. We worked hard with our airline partners to secure …

THE ‘Shannon Bill’ passed through the Seanad this week and has been welcomed by Shannon Airport Chairman Rose Hynes. The Bill will now be presented to President Michael D Higgins for signing, leading to its enactment into law. The Bill will pave the way for the formal establishment of Shannon Group, which will combine the now independent Shannon Airport, with the property ownership and management activities of Shannon Commercial Enterprises Limited, as well as Shannon Heritage and the International Aviation Services Centre (IASC), which builds on the aviation related activities already located at the Airport and in the Free Zone area. As it passed through the Seanad on Tuesday, Shannon Senator Tony Mulcahy welcomed the new legislation and launched an attack on Fianna Fáil at the same time. “Deputy (Timmy) Dooley said we would need a €5 million bung every year for five years to keep the scheme going. This is not true and the scaremongering must come to an …

AER Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, experienced its best month on record in June since the franchise began in March 2010. The airline carried 130,098 passengers last month, a 37% increase on the same period in 2013 (95,000). Furthermore, June 2014 marked a full year of consecutive growth for the airline and the third consecutive month of growth in excess of 30%. Passenger numbers at Shannon Airport were up 29% in June while overall, across the entire network, traffic was up by 26% for the first half of 2014 when compared to the first half of 2013. Aer Lingus Regional’s services to Bristol from Shannon, Dublin and Cork experienced record growth in June, due mainly to the Glastonbury Festival. The Aer Lingus Regional Bristol services experienced passenger growth of 66% in June, compared with the same period last year. Commenting on the month’s successes, Simon Fagan, Chief Commercial Officer, Stobart Air, said: “June 2014 was a monumental month for …