*Photograph: Joe Buckley
AN INCREASING amount of passengers from the hinterland of Dublin Airport opting to fly from Shannon Airport “tells its own story” on the successful recovery of Shannon from the international pandemic.
Briefing councillors at a meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, Acting Director of Services in the Physical Development directorate of Clare County Council, Siobhán McNulty said they had been “working closely with the Shannon Airport Group in relation to Shannon Airport and the impact it is having on the region”.
Siobhán referenced the recent economic impact report produced by the Shannon Airport Group, “it demonstrates the benefit and value to the region”. The launch was attended by Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF), Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) and Shannon MD senior executive officer, Anne Griffin.
Plans of Delta to restart their daily seasonal service from Shannon to New York from May 2024 was welcomed by the Acting Director.
Met Éireann’s recently upgraded weather radar at Shannon Airport had “teething problems but is up and running again,” she flagged. “The level of accurate information is very important for planning our response to extreme weather events,” the Ennistymon woman added.
Chair of the Shannon MD, Cllr McGettigan referenced the economic impact report launch in November, “the transport policy which is outside the airport’s remit was the one negative”. The Shannon woman said, “the car park is always full, it is such an easy airport to use, we’ve people coming down from Kildare to use Shannon which tells its own story”.
An increase in traffic at Shannon Airport is a big positive, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) maintained.
Management of Shannon Airport need to focus on improving their marketing, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) insisted. “The benefits of the airport have been overlooked. The marketing hasn’t followed through on what it could or should be. Marketing companies tend to go to the big areas, big cities and big airports, we’re a periphery airport whether we like it or not”.
