Shannon delight at being voted top airport operating in Europe’s regions
The European Regions Airline Association Airport Achievement Award 2014/2015 was announced at an international aviation conference in Barcelona.
It follows on Shannon recently receiving an international marketing award at the World Routes Awards in Chicago and the inaugural Irish Aviation Industry Achievement Award.
The latest accolade marks the first time an Irish airport has been presented with the overall association award, which was established in 2002.
The judges said Shannon stood out from other contenders for ending five years of “seemingly interminable decline” by attracting new airline customers and making a profit in its first year as an independent entity.
The judges were also impressed by how independence from the national airport authority was used by management to concentrate on the needs of the local community and stakeholders.
Another reason cited for Shannon’s selection was how it had put itself at the very heart of the community in the region.
The award is judged by a panel of leading experts drawn from the aviation industry, including past and present CEOs of European airlines and airport consultants.
In its first year as an independent entity, Shannon, managed to halt five successive years of passenger numbers decline and significant losses by breaking even and marginally growing passenger numbers.
This year the airport hopes to achieve double digit growth on the back of securing a range of new routes, particularly across its European network.
Shannon Group chairman Rose Hynes said: “This is great recognition for Shannon and the efforts here in the run-up to and since separation. Shannon was on a downward cycle when it was made independent. But we not alone convinced Government that independence could work but have been very busy making it work since and we don’t intend there to be any let up.”
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