140% rise in Shannon flyers

New routes from Shannon Airport have delivered a 140% increase in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year.

The services — mostly from Ryanair — were introduced in April following the abolition of the Government’s travel tax.

Boosted by a strong Easter period, Shannon enjoyed its biggest month-over-month increase in more than a decade as 31% more passengers used the airport in April compared to the same month last year.

Passenger numbers on European routes rose to a total of 38,610, from 16,087 in April 2013, with UK provincial rising by 27%, from 13,401 to 17,000.

Transatlantic enjoyed an 18% uplift in the month, from 20,147 to 23,852.

Airport CEO Neil Pakey said: “For the airport, passenger growth is a key objective. We are starting from a low base and a lot of ground needs to be made up, but April has been really positive for us.

“One of the great plusses from these services is the strong inbound potential. This was very evident in its first month as we saw German and French visitors coming through Shannon for the first time in years thanks to our new Berlin, Munich and Paris services.

“There is a very strong market on the continent and, of course, in the UK for the tourism offering on the Atlantic seaboard and we believe we have only begun to tap into its potential.”

With 37 destinations from Shannon to choose from this year, Mr Pakey said the airport had delivered on its promise of new services

Airport chair Rose Hynes added: “The combination of the elimination of travel tax and the contribution made by our airline partners in putting on these new services has been hugely significant for the airport and the region. Shannon is very much in growth mode.”