Shannon passenger numbers increase

Passenger numbers at Shannon rose by 15% in the first half of the year with European business showing a 54% increase.

Results published by the Shannon Airport Authority yesterday show the bulk of the increase has been driven by the nine new services — to Munich, Paris, Faro, Warsaw, Krakow, Nice, Poitiers, Berlin, and Fuerteventura — launched by Ryanair in April.

Overall, passenger numbers in the period were 653,894, up from 568,133 in the same period last year.

UK passengers increased by 5% and transatlantic passenger by 11%.

Shannon Airport chief commercial officer Andrew Murphy said: “We are really happy with the passenger numbers so far this year. We worked hard with our airline partners to secure the new services and there has been a really positive response from the public.

“We have made huge strides this year in meeting the demand for services to and from Shannon with the nine new routes for the summer season. We are also looking at a better upcoming winter season thanks to the five additional services that Ryanair have announced.”

He added: “The significant increases in services are very timely this year with the launch of the Wild Atlantic Way. Shannon is the only airport on the route with services from all three key markets, the US, UK and Europe. If Shannon is going well, it bodes well for the route.”

Ryanair’s head of sales and& marketing, Peter Belle said:, “Ryanair is delighted to celebrate record growth at Shannon Airport with 18 routes which will deliver 750,000 customers for 2014.”