Latest news with #MaryConsidine
Irish Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Shannon Airport traffic increases 7% in first six months of 2025
Shannon Airport saw its passenger traffic increase by 7 per cent in the first half of the year, rising to more than one million over the six months. Chief executive of the Shannon Airport Group Mary Considine said the airport was proud of the strong growth in the first half of the year. The latest growth comes on the heels of a strong 2024, when the airport hit a 15 year high with more than 2.1 million passengers passing through its doors. It was also the first time since 2009 that the airport has broken the 2 million passenger barrier. But she called on the Government to support further growth at the airport through national policy. 'As we continue to deliver strong growth and expand our international reach, it's vital that the new National Aviation Policy recognises the strategic importance of Shannon Airport,' she said. 'With the right policy support, we can unlock even greater connectivity, drive regional economic development, and ensure balanced growth across the country.' READ MORE Shannon Airport currently serves 12 countries with 38 routes. The airport is expecting further growth in the second half of the year. Ryanair recently announced it would base a fourth aircraft at Shannon and add three new routes to Lapland, Madeira, and Madrid. It has also increased the frequencies of six existing services. The airport has seen a €30 million investment programme implemented across the airport and Shannon Airport Business Park, including the provision of 1,000 new car parking spaces head of the summer season. The airport has also committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 51 per cent by 2030 with a view to reaching net zero by 2050. The airport has asked the Government to consider a 'high speed bus network' for the Shannon catchment area in a bid to draw traffic from Dublin Airport amid a debate over Dublin's 32 million annual passenger cap. Ms Considine has previously pitched the airport as part of the solution to relieving pressure on Dublin Airport, pointing out the 'under utilised airport capacity' in the other airports in the country.
Irish Examiner
30-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Shannon Airport calls for rail link for over 10,000 daily commuters
The Shannon Airport Group is calling for the prioritisation of a rail link, which it says will enhance regional accessibility for its more than 10,000 daily commuters. The group has submitted a proposal to the Government urging for decisive action to address what it has called critical infrastructure deficits in the southern region. The group has warned that unless the National Development Plan (NDP) prioritises infrastructure in the South, the national vision for equitable economic and population growth risks falling short. Among its demands is the airport's inclusion in the regional airports programme to enable targeted capital investment. 'Aviation is a key enabler of economic growth by connecting markets, facilitating trade, and unlocking opportunities for tourism and investment,' the group said. Shannon Airport has a key role to play in advancing the objectives of Project Ireland 2040, serving as a key driver for both the national and regional economy 'By investing in infrastructure improvements and expanding route networks, Shannon Airport can reinforce Ireland's long-term economic resilience, ensuring that the West of Ireland thrives economically.' The group has submitted a proposal to the Government urging for decisive action to address what it has called critical infrastructure deficits in the southern region. It is also asking for recommendations from the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce (SEET) to be implemented, with the group urging the Government to integrate SEET priorities into the updated plan. The estuary's potential as a hub for renewable energy, sustainable industry, and tourism is immense, the group said, adding that strategic investment in the region will unlock 'significant economic and climate action benefits.' Commenting on the group's submission, Shannon Airport Group chief Mary Considine said: 'The National Development Plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebalance regional development. 'Our group's submission reinforces the need for a more equitable distribution of capital investment, aligning with minister [Jack] Chambers' vision of boosting economic growth, enhancing competitiveness, and achieving balanced regional development. 'Shannon Airport is a vital economic engine for the Irish economy, and we are calling on Government to ensure that the updated NDP delivers the infrastructure and investment needed to realise the full potential of this region.' Read More Kerry Airport to hit record passenger numbers with new facilities
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Ryanair to base fourth aircraft at Shannon adding routes to Madrid and Lapland
Ryanair announced on Wednesday it will add a fourth aircraft at Shannon Airport this winter, described as a 'gamechanger' for the region, adding 100,000 passengers. The announcement will see three new routes this winter to Lapland, Madeira and Madrid, in addition to extra flights on six existing routes - Alicante, Edinburgh, Kraków, Lanzarote, Manchester, and Wrocław - for Winter 25/26. The announcement will help to deliver 20% traffic growth to Shannon. 'This expansion offers even greater choice for our passengers and strengthens Shannon's position as a key gateway to and from the West of Ireland. Ryanair's investment is a powerful endorsement of the potential of Shannon, a vote of confidence in the market here, and a testament to the progress we've made growing passenger numbers,' said Shannon Airport Group chief executive Mary Considine. 'We see a huge potential for growth and believe there is a real opportunity for Shannon Airport to lead the way in rebalancing the national landscape." Ryanair's chief commercial officer Jason McGuinness said the company is investing €350m in the region. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, he said: 'We've been here at Shannon Airport for 36 years. There's an ambitious management team here that understands the competition they face against the 40 countries and 240 airports that Ryanair operates across Europe. 'We are probably one of the biggest single investors in regional Ireland at the moment. We've doubled the amount of seats we're offering across regional Irish airports and we have doubled the number of passengers we have in Shannon from 800,000 to 1.6m.' Passenger numbers at Shannon Airport reached a 15-year high in 2024, surpassing 2.1m in the 12 months. The addition of a fourth aircraft will mean it will have one more than Cork Airport, which last year reported 3.1m passengers. Asked if Ryanair will also seek to increase its fleet in Cork Airport, Mr McGuinness said: 'I would hope so. We are very committed to regional Irish airports. We have three aircraft based in Cork this winter, but I would hope that could increase. I'm happy to talk to anyone of our 240 airports across Europe.' 'Both airports can grow and we can add more routes to both, but we have never been shy in saying that we allocate capacity wherever costs are best and where we can get the best long-term deals. If the DAA want to come up with something better in terms of its cost base for Cork, we're very happy to talk to them.' 'In terms of our plan to grow from 20m passengers to 30m, the majority of that growth, around 60%, was actually in regional airports, predominantly in Cork and Shannon.' The added aircraft for the 2025 Shannon Airport winter season will result in an additional $100m investment by Ryanair, which Mr McGuinness said is already investing heavily in the region. 'There will be a direct extra 30 jobs spanning across pilots and cabin crew, as well as additional in maintenance and in engineering. We're also likely to be announcing more maintenance jobs in Shannon over the next few months.' Mary Considine, CEO of the Shannon Airport Group told the Irish Examiner: 'This is a massive vote of confidence for us. The more aircraft we have here, the more frequency and services Ryanair can offer. In addition to increased frequencies for our six most popular routes, they have also been able to announce three new routes for the winter.'
Irish Examiner
07-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Shannon Airport CEO optimistic for summer season despite geopolitical tensions
After a landmark year in 2024, Shannon Airport is building on its momentum with new routes, increased investment, and a growing passenger base taking it from strength to strength. Welcoming 2.1m passengers last year, its highest number since 2009, the Shannon Airport Group posted an 8% rise in annual turnover in 2024 — rising to more than €73m, with its pre-tax profit for the year totalling almost €26m. Its success has caught the attention of several major airlines, with the airport now offering its largest transatlantic schedule with five daily nonstop flights to the US, landing in New York, Newark, Boston and Chicago. Its latest vote of confidence came earlier this week from budget airline Ryanair, which announced three new routes alongside a $100m investment in the airport as it continues to expand its presence across regional hubs. The investment includes the addition of a new aircraft to be stationed at Shannon, bringing its total number to four for its 2025 winter schedule. It now hosts one more Ryanair aircraft than Cork, despite the second largest airport having 1m more passengers last year. 'We see a huge potential for growth and believe there is a real opportunity for us,' said Mary Considine, the chief executive officer of the Shannon Airport Group. Shannon Airport CEO Mary Considine says Ireland's aviation policy should be changed because Dublin has an 85-86% market share. Picture: Arthur Ellis Appointed in October 2019, Ms Considine told the Irish Examiner: 'The more aircraft we have here, the more frequency and services Ryanair can offer. 'In addition to increased frequencies for our six most popular routes, they have also been able to announce three new routes for the winter: Madrid, Madeira and Lapland.' Yet despite its enhanced connectivity across Europe, Shannon's transatlantic flights remain some of its busiest and are a vital component of its overall operations. However, as political tensions rise across the US, the number of people travelling across the Atlantic from Ireland has fallen drastically. Recent figures from the US International Trade Administration (ITA) found that passenger travel from Ireland fell by 27% in March when compared to the same month in 2024, with Ireland representing one of the highest decreases across all European countries. When geopolitical events are happening with heightened uncertainty, sometimes people hesitate in making decisions Yet, despite this downward demand pressure on US travel, Ms Considine remains optimistic. 'Talking with our airline partners, they're very confident about the summer season. There are very strong forward bookings, which go back to the strong market for the US from here," she said. 'We have very strong foreign direct investment in the catchment area of Shannon Airport. Almost 50% of the [foreign direct investment] in the country comes from within our immediate catchment area. "We're also the international gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, and we are seeing strong tourism growth.' Noting recent figures from the Central Statistics Office, which found tourism numbers had fallen by 4% in April, Ms Considine says that has not been reflected in the airport's performance. 'We've seen good growth here. We saw 7% growth last year, and we expect to be up by between 7-8% again this year. Preclearance facility The CEO also notes Shannon's US preclearance facility — one of only two across Europe, the other being in Dublin — which she says brings greater comfort to Irish people, especially young adults and those travelling on J1 visas, and even provides an opportunity for the airport to grow. 'Take Charles De Gaulle [Airport], for example,' Ms Considine said. 'They bring quite an amount of transfer passengers here, because people prefer to pre-clear here then be refused once they get to the US. We see that kind of demand growing at Shannon, which provides an opportunity for us here But Shannon Airport's long-standing history with the US is reflected across its operations and not just in its commercial flight offerings. Recent months have seen a renewed focus on the regional airport over reports that Israeli aircraft have flown weaponry from the US to Ireland through Irish airspace. Last week, RTÉ reported that between 2022 and 2024, a total of 978 US military flights landed at Irish airports, mostly in Shannon, for refuelling and maintenance purposes. During the same period, more than 1,000 applications were made by US civil aircraft with munitions of war on board to land at Shannon. Reports of these flights have drawn large crowds to the airport in protest of its accommodation of US military aircraft, particularly those bound for Israel. Addressing these demonstrations, Ms Considine said that while the airport accepts and recognises the right to protest in a peaceful manner, Shannon Airport operates solely based on government policy. At the end of the day, we work under the direction of the Irish Government. We are State-owned and our focus is on providing a safe, secure and operational airport "Anything that interferes with the safety and security of the airport is obviously something to be concerned about," she said. 'Concerning recent incidents, we're working very closely with gardaí to ensure there is no impact on the operation of our aerodrome facility. Addressing the reports of military aircraft coming through the airport, Ms Considine added: 'It's government policy. Everything is done in line with existing policy, and everything that requires clearance from the Government receives that clearance. 'It is government policy, and we implement government policy.' Shannon has five daily transatlantic flights, its pre-clearance facility reassuring passengers of guaranteed entry to the US. Picture: Denis Scannell Looking forward, Ms Considine says recent investments from Ryanair and US airline partners fall concisely in line with its own future strategy, which prioritises passenger growth, infrastructure improvements, and the airport group's commercial property portfolio, which the CEO says has experienced strong growth in recent months, particularly across the manufacturing sector. In addition, Shannon is also seeking to re-balance what Ms Considine has called a lopsided market share among Ireland's airports. 'If you look at Dublin, it has an 85-86% market share. We need to look at where people want to go and then meet those needs. That is why growing the range of services from Shannon Airport is so important, so we can offer that choice and then grow our market share. 'This is why we have been calling on the Government to revise its aviation policy. One avenue open to them is to amend the threshold under the regional airports programme so that airports up to 3m passengers can apply for grant funding. 'I also think it would be good for the country if we had better distribution of air traffic to free up capacity in Dublin, allowing them to go after those long-haul markets, while allowing us all to be complimentary of one another. 'It's not about not allowing Dublin to grow, it's about growing all airports and using the airport system more holistically.' Read More Ryanair to base fourth aircraft at Shannon adding routes to Madrid and Lapland
The Irish Sun
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Ryanair announces three new routes from busy Irish airport to top Spain locations where it's mild in winter
RYANAIR has announced three new routes from a major Irish airport that will take off this winter. The budget airline has revealed an additional €100million 3 CEO of The Shannon Airport Group Mary Considine, Chief Commercial Officer Ryanair, Jason McGuinness, with Ryanair Crew members Mariana Almagaro, Maciek Gladys and Lara Pereira, Ryanair Crew with Santa Claus Credit: Arthur Ellis 3 The investment will come in the form of a new 'game-changer' aircraft Credit: Getty Images - Getty This will come in the form of a new 'game-changer' aircraft, which will be its fourth. Alongside this, Irish As part of the airline's winter 2025-2026 plan, jetsetters can now fly from the busy airport to three popular destinations. You can now add READ MORE IN TRAVEL During the winter months, temperatures in Madeira can reach up to 13C, while Madrid remains around 10C. It is expected that this announcement will see a rise of 100,000 passengers. It will also support over 1,500 local Ryanair will also increase flights from Shannon Airport to Alicante, Edinburgh, Krakow, Lanzarote, Manchester, and Wrocław. Most read in News Travel This marks a 20 per cent growth for the Dublin Airport issue 'simple' reminder to passengers going through security ahead of busy season in hilarious video Speaking at the announcement yesterday, "We will be growing our Shannon capacity by 20%, adding three new routes to Madrid, Madeira and Lapland – I think Lapland is going to be very popular with the "We're also increasing frequencies on six other popular routes here from Shannon. "Just to put it in perspective, the Ryanair network in its totality is growing by 3 per cent this year, so Shannon is doing exceptionally well growing at 20 per cent. So very good news for Shannon, very good news for the Midwest. "Today is a continuation of Ryanair's commitment to growth in regional Ireland. We've doubled the amount of seats we're offering in regional Ireland, pre- and post-Covid." CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine, said the Group is delighted. She said: "We're delighted to have Ryanair here today to announce their winter schedule. CELEBRATORY SALE "Ryanair has announced this morning a new route to Madrid, which is a really important hub airport, as well as Madeira going through the winter and Lapland. "It's great to have that service for "So, we're delighted with those announcements, but moreover, I think it's in line with our own strategy to grow throughput through Shannon and to really maximise the use of this vital piece of strategic infrastructure for the state." She added that the Lapland market is very important across the winter season. Speaking about the opportunities it presents for families, she said: "It's an opportunity for families that want to go to Lapland and visit Santa, but it's also a really popular tourist destination for things like skiing as well. "And you would hope that people come into Ireland from "I think it's very exciting, it's a new destination, and I think it'll be very popular." To celebrate the announcement, the airline has launched a two-day sale with seats starting from €29.99. 3 There will be three new routes introduced Credit: Arthur Ellis
