Fall in passenger numbers at Shannon forecast to stabilise

THE decline in passenger traffic at Shannon Airport has bottomed out and passenger traffic in 2012 is expected to be in line with 2011.

That is the message from the Shannon Airport Authority marketing director, Declan Power, who confirmed that the final passenger numbers for 2011 at the airport — yet to be published — will be over 1.6 million, which is down from a 3.6 million peak in 2007.

The drop in traffic is mainly as a result of Ryanair closing its six-aircraft Shannon base.