RYANAIR has announced it is to make a €50m investment at Shannon Airport which will create 400 jobs.
This investment will see the construction of a new four-bay aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hangar and an Engineering Academy at Shannon Airport resulting in 400 jobs.
Planning has been sought by Ryanair on a 6.7-acre site on the airfield at Shannon Airport. Subject to planning approval, the facility will become the airline’s largest aircraft maintenance operation in Ireland and further strengthen Shannon’s position as one of Europe’s leading aviation centres.
Senior management of Ryanair were in Shannon on Thursday to make the announcement along with Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke (FG).
Already Ryanair operates a three-bay aircraft maintenance facility employing more than 200 people in Shannon Airport. Ryanair has operated from Shannon Airport since 1987 and remains one of the airport’s most important airline partners, contributing significantly to connectivity, tourism and employment across the west of Ireland. This summer, Ryanair operates a record 30 routes from Shannon and has increased seat capacity by 15% compared with the same period last year.
Construction is expected to commence in early 2027 with the facility expected to enter operation in late 2028, subject to planning approval. The proposed new facility will comprise more than 15,000m² of aircraft maintenance and ancillary space.
Enterprise Ireland are supporting the development of the Engineering Academy. which will see the creation of 80 new apprenticeship roles will be created and support the training of over 400 additional aircraft mechanics between 2027 and 2031.
CEO of Ryanair, Eddie Wilson stated, “This project is about jobs, skills and growth. Shannon already plays an important role in maintaining Ryanair’s fleet, and this expansion will create hundreds of highly skilled engineering jobs while training the next generation of aircraft mechanics in Ireland. This major new facility will not only increase Ryanair’s aircraft maintenance capacity at Shannon but will also include a new Engineering Academy, providing dedicated training facilities for up to 80 apprentices, training over 400 mechanics between 2027 and 2031”.
Minister Burke welcomed the announcement which he said was “creating high quality jobs here in Shannon, is very welcome and demonstrates the continued success of this Irish company’s performance internationally. The government through Enterprise Ireland is committed to scaling and building Irish multinationals that will help drive the Irish economy and our competitive advantage forward. Ryanair’s announcement today is evidence of that Irish multinational ambition in action, and we are delighted to support them on their Shannon expansion plans to include the establishment of a dedicated Ryanair Engineering Academy”.
Enterprise Ireland CEO, Jenny Melia stated, “The company’s investment in skills and training in Shannon is particularly significant, supporting the development of specialist talent and helping to address critical skills needs across the aviation sector. This investment further strengthens Ireland’s position as a centre of excellence for aviation. Ambitious companies like Ryanair exemplify Enterprise Ireland’s vision that Irish globally focused companies will be the primary driver of our economy. Enterprise Ireland looks forward to continuing to work with the Ryanair team as they pursue their expansion plans, grow their international customer base, and create high-quality employment opportunities in Ireland.”
Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien (FF), stated, “Our ambition and vision for the State-owned Shannon Airport Group to strengthen its aerospace industry cluster at Shannon Airport is further enhanced by this investment, which will also bring a significant number of new jobs to the airport campus making an important contribution to the economy in the mid-west region. This investment also reflects Ireland’s position as a global leader in aviation and reinforces our reputation as a leading international hub for the aerospace industry.”
Ray O’Driscoll, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group commented, “Ryanair’s proposal to invest at Shannon is a powerful endorsement of Shannon Airport, our aviation ecosystem and the wider region. From the birthplace of aircraft leasing, Shannon has grown into a global hub for aviation, spanning aircraft maintenance, engineering, leasing and aviation services. Today, Shannon Airport and the adjacent Shannon Airport Business Park together support Ireland’s largest aviation cluster, with almost 100 companies operating across the campus. The airport’s 10 aircraft hangars which are used for aircraft MRO, aircraft painting and general aviation activities are further evidence of the breadth and strength of Shannon’s aviation sector.
“The scale of Ryanair’s proposal reflects the depth of aviation expertise, engineering capability and talent that has developed here over decades. We are proud of our long-standing relationship with Ryanair and look forward to supporting its ambitions at Shannon. This significant investment by Ryanair, with support from Enterprise Ireland, will not only create highly skilled employment opportunities but will also help develop the next generation of aviation talent, further strengthening the region’s skills base and supporting continued economic growth,” O’Driscoll added.
In a statement to The Clare Echo, Clare TD Cathal Crowe (FF) described it as “game changing” for Shannon Airport. “This is a very significant investment in Shannon Airport and a realisation of the potential of the airport to play an even more significant role in international aviation. The announcement of a significant number of new jobs will be very welcome to the airport itself but also to the surrounding communities which will benefit from the influx of these new highly skilled employees.
He added, “Whilst this announcement is not expected to directly create new routes in and out of Shannon, the scale of the investment which Ryanair will be announcing will be game changing for Shannon Airport and the operations there. This investment is an investment in the very future of Shannon Airport”.
In November, Ryanair announced the addition of four new routes from Shannon to Madrid, Poznań, Rome and Warsaw along with reiterating their previously announced plans to have a fourth based aircraft in Shannon. Chief Operating Officer of Ryanair, Jason McGuinness said it represented a €345m investment.
