Flying over Shannon

Cork threatens Shannon’s title as the state’s second busiest airport after 15 years of successive growth, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

WHILE Cork has always enjoyed its position as the country’s second largest city, its airport has always had to be content with occupying third place in the shadow of Shannon with its long-standing association with glamorous transatlantic travel and thousands of US tourists.

Yet, over the past decade while both airports experienced large growth in passenger figures, Shannon has rarely been more than 500,000 passengers ahead of its near rival.