RYANAIR’s decision to scale back services at Shannon Airport has heightened the need for multi-annual supports for the International Airport, a Clare TD has said.
As reported by The Clare Echo, Ryanair will be reducing its January capacity by thirty three percent. Services at Shannon Airport impacted include, Luton, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London Gatwick and London Stansted.
In December, €10.1m was allocated to Shannon under both the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021 – 2025 and the Covid-19 Supplementary Support Scheme.
Supports offered to Shannon Airport must now be extended beyond 2022, Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) maintained. “Shannon Airport has had the bad luck of falling between the cracks of statutory support. It hasn’t received the same level of supports as the other state airports that are still under the remit of the Dublin Airport Authority, i.e. Dublin and Cork. But it also hasn’t been incorporated into the category of regional airports – which means it has been, up until now excluded from applying for funding ring-fenced for our country’s smaller airports”.
She voiced her support for Shannon Group’s plea for Shannon Airport to be permanently included in the Regional Airports Programme. “This will allow the airport to attract more resources and funding to allow them to remain buoyant in these very challenging times.
Forward planning and necessary developments would occur on the back of multi-annual funding, the Kilrush TD believed.
“Footfall in Shannon has been decreasing since 2008, hit its lowest in 2012 and has only marginally increased since then. Obviously, consistent state support is key to returning activity at Shannon Airport to its former glory and by doing so, benefitting the Midwest region in its entirety,” Deputy Wynne concluded.
