How Knock airport challenged Shannon’s status

An application to fly direct charters flights from Knock Airport to the US in 1986 was rejected by the Government over fears of the political backlash, as such a move would end the agreed Shannon stopover for all transatlantic flights from Ireland.

In late 1986, a US charter airline, Blue Army/Skystar International, sought permission to fly from Knock Airport direct to the US without a stopover at Shannon in summer 1987.

The company’s plan was to transport 5,000 pilgrims to two sites on mainland Europe before visiting Knock as the last leg of the route before the return journey back to the US.