EIGHTEEN jobs are set to be lost as Aer Lingus prepares to shut its cargo in Shannon Airport.
International Airlines Group (IAG) Cargo has decided to close its facility at Shannon Airport by the end of this year. IAG said the level of capital investment required for the building is not supported by the level of cargo activity at Shannon, a view refuted by airport management.
The Clare Echo understands that IAG’s decision will result in the loss of eighteen jobs, a move which has been labelled “a massive industry blow” to the Mid-West. The Aer Lingus cargo facility had been in operation in Shannon since the 1960s.
This is the latest move from Aer Lingus to cut back on its operations at Shannon Airport. In 2012, the airline closed its maintenance base at Shannon while in 2021 it shut its crew base.
Consultation with impacted staff will commence in the coming weeks, IAG have said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for IAG outlined that the decision to close the Shannon facility was taken following a review of its operations. “This is because the building requires significant capital investment that is not supported by the level of cargo activity at Shannon airport. The company will now enter a consultation process with staff representatives to explore the options”.
IAG stated, “Cargo volumes at Shannon have declined by half in recent years and unlike other locations, these volumes have not recovered post Covid, making the business model for remaining at this location unsustainable. Every effort was made in the last few years to secure additional cargo business for the Shannon facility both locally and by diverting cargo from other areas, but regretfully it was concluded that the Cargo operation for Ireland could no longer support a dedicated presence in Shannon, particularly in light of the fact that over 95% of all Shannon cargo travels by road to fly in or out of Dublin”.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office detail that cargo operations at Shannon Airport have grown by 23 percent since 2018. Shannon Airport carried 13,600 tonnes in 2018, and 16,752 in 2023 meaning that freight volume grew 23% over the last five years.
Shannon Airport Group in a statement to The Clare Echo said, “we will be sorry to see the operation cease”. The statement added, “Shannon has a strong cargo operation, and we will continue to work with our other cargo operators at Shannon Airport among these, DHL, UPS and FedEx. We remain dedicated to serving our community and supporting the growth and resilience of our regional economy. Our focus is on maintaining the highest levels of service and connectivity for our customers, and we will continue to seek ways to attract new business and investment to our airport”.
Aer Lingus “remains a valued and long-standing airline partner of Shannon Airport, and we are committed to continuing our collaborative relationship,” the spokesperson for Shannon Airport Group stated. Aer Lingus continues to operate a range of passenger services from Shannon Airport, daily transatlantic passenger services to New York JFK and Boston; three times daily services to London Heathrow, and a service to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. “We will work closely with Aer Lingus to explore potential opportunities that may arise in the future, ensuring that our airport continues to be a key hub for both passenger and cargo operations”.
