Shannon Airport wants accelerated vaccine rollout programme

'Crucial to recovery will be the lifting of global travel restrictions once it is safe to do so'

The empty terminal at Shannon Airport. Picture : Eamon Ward

The CEO of the Shannon Group has said an accelerated vaccine rollout programme is vital for economic recovery after the airport recorded a decrease of 1.37 million passengers last year due to the impact of the pandemic.

Mary Considine reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to restoring air services to Shannon and visitor numbers to its heritage sites as soon as the aviation and tourism sectors reopen. Just over 352,000 people used the airport last year, a 79% decrease on 2019. The Group’s heritage sites including Bunratty Castle and St John's Castle also saw a collapse in visitor numbers, which are heavily reliant on international visitors. The sites recorded over 302,000 visitors, a reduction of almost 69% on 2019.