New route announced at Shannon Airport as bank holiday surge expected
The route will operate on Saturdays running from April 4 to October 24, 2026, and on Thursdays from May 14 to September 24, offering passengers a quick two hour journey on board an Airbus A320-200.
The new Frankfurt route will add more than 16,700 seats to Shannon's summer schedule.
Welcoming the announcement Mary Considine, CEO, The Shannon Airport Group said: 'This is more fantastic news for Shannon Airport and the Mid-West business community.
'Having direct access to Frankfurt, one of Europe's key airport hubs and a leading financial centre, opens up incredible opportunities for both connectivity and growth.
'It's a win not just for business travel, but also for regional tourism.
'Germany is a hugely important market for us, and with this new direct route, inbound visitors have an easier path to the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way and all that the West of Ireland has to offer.'
As part of the Lufthansa Group, Discover Airlines will connect to the vast Lufthansa Group network through their Frankfurt hub.
This offers convenient and regular onward connections to destinations across Germany, Europe and beyond.
The news comes as Shannon Airport is anticipating one of their busiest weekends of the year.
The airport is preparing for a bustling August Bank Holiday, with almost 60,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport over the period - marking a 10 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
This continued growth reflects a strong performance for Shannon Airport in 2025, with over 1.04 million passengers recorded in the first half of the year – a seven per cent year-on-year increase.
"We're delighted to see such strong demand this August Bank Holiday period,' Ms Considine said.
'The increase in passenger numbers is a clear sign that our investments in connectivity, infrastructure and customer experience are paying off.
'Shannon is thriving, and we're proud to be playing a key role in supporting tourism and business across the region."
Passengers travelling over the Bank Holiday period are advised to arrive two hours before short-haul flights and three hours before long-haul departures.
It is also strongly advised to pre-book parking via shannonairport.ie ahead of what will be an exceptionally busy weekend.
Shannon Airport has also recently taken home the crown for 'Ireland's Top Airport Brand 2025', retaining its position as the country's top airport brand for the third consecutive year, according to the RED C Brand Reaction Index (BRI) Ireland 2025.
The newly released index, which lists the top 176 most emotionally connected brands, shows Shannon Airport placed at number 48, up three places on last year's list, and once again making it the highest-ranking airport brand in the country.
'We are absolutely delighted to be recognised as Ireland's top airport brand for a 3rd year running,' Ms Considine said.
'An excellent customer experience is always our priority here at Shannon Airport, so this comprehensive Red C testing is really important as a measure of how we are connecting with customers and delivering on that every year.
'We're incredibly grateful to our loyal passengers - not just for choosing to fly Shannon, but for recognising what we work so hard to deliver every day: great value, accessibility, convenience and comfort.
'Our fantastic teams across Shannon Airport consistently go the extra mile to make each journey smooth and enjoyable, and this announcement is a true reflection of their passion and dedication.
'A huge thank you to them all.'
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