Tours for delayed passengers sought

CALLS have been made for transit passengers delayed at Shannon Airport to be offered local tours of the area similar to ventures undertaken at Amsterdam Airport in recent times, at a recent Clare County Council meeting.

Councillor Pat McMahon raised the issue in a motion at last week’s adjourned meeting of the local authority, where he called for the Shannon Airport Authority to consider offering an assortment of local tours for those delayed at the airport.
The motion outlined that a similar venture undertaken in Holland has been very successful.
He said the airport should look at putting a situation in place where passengers delayed for a number of hours or even overnight could be brought instead to local tourism products in the immediate area.
Councillor McMahon was supported by Councillor Patricia McCarthy, who said she could not see a reason why those delayed could not be brought on an excursion to the likes of Bunratty or the Burren. She said a meaningful package could be drawn up and used when a five-hour delay or a 10-hour delay may occur for something like a technical issue.
Councillor Sean McLoughlin also supported the motion. He highlighted that it is something that could be organised in a very short period of time.