*Ray O’Driscoll, Interim CEO The Shannon Airport Group, Grainne McInerney, Head of Group Capital Projects, The Shannon Airport Group, Peter O’Connell, MD OCC, Tara Leech, Health and Safety OCC, Gearoid O’Leary, Project Manager, The Shannon Airport Group, John O’Connell, Senior Contracts Manager OCC and Niall Kearns, Airport Director of Shannon Airport. Photograph: Arthur Ellis
CONSTRUCTION has commenced on a €15m upgrade of the Shannon Airport terminal building.
Forming the first airport-focused element of its €40m investment drive for 2026, the Shannon Airport Group have started upgrading the Shannon Airport terminal building.
As part of the work, the 1970s section of Shannon Airport’s main terminal building will be replaced with a modern, curved architectural façade, designed to dramatically improve energy performance. The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2027, no significant disruption is expected for passengers while work is ongoing.
This upgrade will help to facilitate the terminal’s transition to electric heat pump technology and new HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems, enabling a move away from fossil fuel systems and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Passengers will also notice the physical impact to the terminal, with a striking, fresh, new look for the exterior.
In addition to its environmental benefits, this wider project will also deliver substantial improvements to the customer experience. The immigration and baggage halls will be completely upgraded. Arriving passengers can expect brighter, more contemporary spaces featuring upgraded toilets, improved lighting and flooring, clearer signage and new layouts. These refurbishments are designed to reduce queues and streamline passenger movement, including a dedicated new entrance for European passengers.
An approximate 62 tonnes CO₂ will be saved annually by the removal of the old 1950s link corridor, this will eliminate the requirement to heal and cool the old structure. As part of this change, new accommodations for Fixed Based Operators will be constructed within the arrivals area of the terminal building.
Galway‑based OCC Construction, a leading Irish contractor known for delivering high‑quality commercial, residential and med‑tech developments, has been appointed to carry out the works.
Interim CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Ray O’Driscoll described the start of the €15m arrivals area upgrade as “a significant step forward in our commitment to lowering emissions, improving energy performance and enhancing the customer experience at Shannon Airport”.
He added, “As part of our overall €40 million investment programme, this project will enable major carbon reductions while also modernising one of the most important parts of the terminal. This work builds on the numerous enhancements we’ve already delivered and is a further investment in our passengers and in a sustainable future”.
This investment follows the introduction of C3 security scanners, the addition of 1,000 new car parking spaces, installation of six new state‑of‑the‑art airbridges, enhanced flight information displays, introducing the Shannon Airport App and, in 2025, launching Ireland’s first on airfield Solar PV farm as well as newly refurbished European Gates 1-5.
Additional projects included in The Shannon Airport Group’s 2026 €40m investment programme include upgrading taxiways and the completion of Blocks Y & Z, two state-of-the-art industrial units which will add approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of flexible, sustainable space at the Shannon Airport Business Park.
