Ryanair looking for almost no-charges deal at Shannon, says airport chief

SHANNON airport chief Martin Moroney yesterday revealed Ryanair is seeking an almost free ‘no charges’ deal at Shannon, similar to the one it has in the Canary Islands.

Mr Moroney said if Ryanair presses ahead with its threatened reduction of flights at Shannon, passenger numbers could slump from 2.7 million this year to 2 million in 2010.

Last year Ryanair accounted for 60% of Shannon’s passenger numbers. The low-cost airline has threatened to pull 75% of its Shannon schedule next year if they cannot get a new cheaper deal on airport charges and the abolition of the €10 Government passenger tax.

The airline said it will reduce the number of aircraft based at Shannon from four to one if they cannot cut a new deal.

Marin Moroney said Ryanair is the best airline to deliver volumes of traffic and they wanted their planes at Shannon.

A five-year deal on charges and passenger numbers concludes next April and the Shannon Airport Authority has stated it will not enter a new five-year deal due to what it says are Ryanair’s unreasonable demands.

Speaking to journalists at a symposium at Thomond Park, to map out what road maps need to be followed to enable Limerick City and County to take full advantage of the country’s Smart economy, Mr Moroney said Shannon will this year have about 2.7 million passengers.

“We are down 8% this year, Other airports across Europe are down 15% to 20%. Next year will be a bigger blow if the Ryanair reduction is as they predict. We could be looking at two million passengers,” he said.

Asked if Ryanair were now looking for the use of the airport for free, Mr Moroney replied: “Well it’s not far off that, in fact.”

Mr Moroney said if Ryanair had delivered the original agreement of two million passengers a year that would have been very satisfactory and meant the airline having five aircraft based at Shannon.

He said: “They never delivered this. This year they have delivered 1.2 million, which is the equivalent of three aircraft. Losing any service is a big blow to the airport.

“We must operate the airport commercially and we do require some payment from airlines to land and use facilities.”