SO FAR IN 2023, drones have forced the suspension of activity at Dublin Airport on six occasions, delaying thousands of passengers and prompting multiple flight diversions.
No such worries have been experienced at Shannon Airport and according to former Mayor of Clare, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) it is a further sign that the amount of activity at Dublin Airport is unsustainable.
Counter-drone technology is to be installed at Dublin Airport. Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers (FF) stated this week that Dublin Airport will be tasked with the purchase of counter-drone technology immediately and while this is being sourced, airport operator daa will begin training personnel on how to deploy it, in conjunction with the Irish Aviation Authority.
This technology will be in place in a number of weeks, the Junior Minister said. An assessment of whether there is a broader requirement for this technology in the State is due to be completed by the 1 July.
Stress caused at Dublin Airport by the delays and diversions are another blow to the country’s busiest airport which disastrously struggled with queues last summer and resulted in passengers missing flights as they attempted to get through security.
A spokesperson for Shannon Airport Group told The Clare Echo that activity at Shannon Airport has never been affected by drones. “We haven’t experienced any drone disruption at Shannon. We are in regular contact with the Department of Transport, the Irish Aviation Authority, the Gardaí and the other state and regional airports regarding recent drone activities and will consider any recommendations following the investigations into the disruption caused at Dublin Airport recently.”
Events in Dublin are “unfortunate”, Cllr Ryan said but create further opportunities for Shannon. “It has created business for Shannon and we won’t say no to that. We need to send a message out that Shannon Airport is not as built up as Dublin, most of our flights go out over the Atlantic and Estuary so it is less dangerous than flying into busy cities”.
Cllr Ryan stated, “I always believe the amount of passengers going through Dublin Airport cannot be sustained, it is time the Minister brought in a new aviation policy and spread the passengers throughout Ireland. We have room for more capacity at Shannon, Cork and Knock, we need to spread it around”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Cratloe native added, “Shannon has massive capacity, it massive links internationally and they should be utilised, industry is building quite well at the Shannon Industrial Estate so that’s important it is maintained. Shannon Airport is the engine of our area, it is our golden veil, we need to protect and mind it. The traffic going into Dublin cannot be sustained and neither can the air traffic, there is big talk in Government circles of building up rural areas, this is a chance to spread passengers among Shannon, Cork and Knock and give a massive help to the rural areas of our country”.
