40,000 passengers are expected through the doors of Shannon Airport as it records a seven percent increase on St Patrick’s Day traffic.
It marks one of the busiest St Patrick’s Day periods for Shannon Airport in recent years.
An uplift in travel to the United Kingdom is already visible at Shannon Airport with Cheltenham taking place from 10th–13th March. The ever-popular horse racing festival has seen Ryanair operating additional services on its Shannon to Birmingham route to accommodate racegoers heading to and from the event.
Niall Kearns, Airport Director at Shannon said, “St. Patrick’s Day is always a special time at Shannon Airport, and it traditionally marks the start of the tourism season for many. This year’s passenger numbers show the continued confidence of our customers, and follow a strong start to the year, with average passenger growth of 7% across January and February.
“We’re delighted to welcome visitors from the US, UK and Europe as they arrive to enjoy St Patrick’s Day celebrations across the Mid‑West and along the Wild Atlantic Way, attending parades and events, and contributing to the wider regional economy. It’s also a pleasure to look after those travelling to the UK for the Cheltenham Festival, as well as passengers heading abroad for sun holidays and city breaks. Our team is looking forward to making everyone’s journey as smooth as possible and offering a warm Irish welcome to passengers passing through the airport in the week ahead,” he added.
To add to the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, Shannon Airport’s terminal building is once again going green, a long-standing tradition as the airport takes part in the Global Greening, joining landmark buildings across the country, and around the world, glowing green at this time of the year.
Passengers travelling this week are encouraged to make the most of their journey by downloading the Shannon Airport app to easily pre-book parking, pin their car location, and get live flight updates at their fingertips.
They can also ensure a speedier journey through security by keeping their 100ml liquids and electronics packed in their cabin bags. Those on outbound flights can also avail of special Mother’s Day and St. Patrick’s weekend promotions in Shannon Duty Free.
