A NEW DAILY NONSTOP SEASON SERVICE from Chicago to Shannon Airport is to take flight next summer.
United Airlines on Wednesday announced that the new service will commence on May 26th 2023 departing Shannon daily at 09:30am on a Boeing 757-200 aircraft for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a major US hub.
From 2013 to 2017, United previously operated a Shannon to Chicago service. At that time, the airline operated five-times weekly, the 2023 service will see it expand to a seven day a week service, bringing a welcome uplift for the regional economy.
It is envisaged that this new route has the capacity to generate an additional 30,000 passengers through Shannon Airport next year, supporting the West of Ireland economy in terms of business connections and an increase in tourism numbers.
In 1998, United Airlines began operating from Shannon Airport and have carried over 2.2 million passengers in the intervening 24 years. This new daily Chicago service will be an addition to the daily service to Newark/New Jersey that United operate at Shannon and which is set to return on the 8th of April 2023.
CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine said it was “fantastic news for our customers and our staff”. She stated, Chicago is a really important U.S. gateway and is a positive addition to the daily services we already offer from Shannon to New York, Boston and Newark/New Jersey”. The announcement was “proof that United Airlines sees further opportunities for growth at Shannon”.
She continued, “Over the years Shannon has performed strongly supporting the local economy with flights to and from North America, boosting tourism and benefitting the business community. Our aviation development team have been working hard over the last few years to secure the return of this popular service”.
Commenting on the new service Martina Coogan, United Country Sales Manager Ireland said, “As the only U.S. airline to offer direct flights from Shannon, we are excited to announce this further expansion of our route network from Ireland to the U.S. We expect another busy summer for international travel in 2023 and are proud to build on our industry-leading global network to offer our customers in the west of Ireland even greater travel choice and the possibility to connect via our U.S. hubs to other destinations across the Americas”.
Last month, former Mayor of Clare, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) proposed that Shannon Airport be requested to investigate the possibility of re-establishing an airlink between Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Shannon.
A recent Clare delegation to Milwaukee heard from “a huge amount of people asking for direct flights from Chicago to Shannon”, many of whom were senior citizens and wanted to explore the west of Ireland, Cllr Ryan outlined. “They are doing some fantastic work in Shannon Airport at the minute, that is evident with the car park nearly full, it shows the business being done which is bringing business to the area”.
Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) noted the value of Chicago as a hub airport. “Hopefully in the future if an airline starts looking at flying into Ireland with all the trouble Dublin has and Shannon being trouble free. The efficiency and the staff is positive but our marketing is weak”.
Chaos in Dublin Airport earlier this year still leaves “a massive opportunity” for Shannon, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) maintained. “America has a huge Irish population, now is the time that Shannon make the most of what has happened in Dublin. Shannon’s facilities are superb, they cater for so many people whether they are young, old or have disabilities”.
