US troop traffic at Shannon to rise

US troop movements through Shannon airport are set to increase with the three US commercial troop carriers that pulled out of Shannon earlier this year returning to transfer US soldiers through the airport.

In the wake of security breaches at Shannon airport World Airways, Miami Air and North American Airways withdrew from Shannon in February - all three commercial airlines are employed by the US military and were involved in the build up in the US war against Iraq.

An Aer Rianta spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that Miami Air and North American Airways have already transported troops through Shannon in recent days, while World Airways has confirmed it is to resume a programme of flights through Shannon.