SHANNON AIRPORT is set to welcome 40,000 passengers this August Bank Holiday Weekend as it continues to enjoy a bounce back.

Representing 87 percent of passenger numbers for the same period in 2019, the pent-up desire to fly overseas remains evident in Shannon with destinations such as Malaga, the Canary Islands, Alicante, Barcelona and Malta proving popular.

27 destinations to eleven countries are on Shannon Airport’s summer schedule this year with 108 weekly frequencies to the US, UK and Europe. Ryanair is responsible for flying to 22 of the 27 destinations with the remainder covered by Aer Lingus (3), United Airlines (1) and Vueling (1).

Passengers taking to the skies this bank holiday weekend from Shannon will experience the airport’s multi-million euro passenger screening system, which eliminates the 100 ml rule and cuts time spent through screening by half. Shannon is the first state airport in Ireland to introduce this time saving security screening system.

Niall Maloney, Shannon Airport’s Operations and Commercial Director noted the “demand out there for those well-deserved breaks. This is the largest number of passengers for this period in three years”.

He added, “We are focused on making travel as easy as possible for our passengers and growing their travel options from Shannon Airport. In addition to our popular traditional routes, we have a number of new summer services this year, among these are Malta, Barcelona-Girona, Budapest, Edinburgh, and Corfu. We are also excited to welcome Vueling Airlines, a new carrier to Shannon, with their Paris service due to start in September.

“We have worked hard to bring these services to our passengers and are focused on rebuilding and broadening the options available for them. In addition, we have worked with the other service providers at the airport to ensure that the journey through the airport is as easy and hassle free as possible. Facilities such as our US Preclearance, the airport sensory room, along with the short distance from our car parks to the terminal building, compliments our latest investment in high tech security screening and all adds to making the journey easier,” Niall concluded.