The CEO of Shannon Group admits more financial support from government will be required to help in the recovery of Shannon Airport in the coming years.
It comes as Ryanair has praised Shannon for lowering its charges to facilitate the return of the airline’s winter base here next year.
Ryanair will base one aircraft at Shannon Airport again from April of 2021, while operating 32 weekly flights next summer to 14 destinations in Portugal, Spain, the UK, Lithuania and Poland.
Its base here has been closed since October, and for the first three months of next year it will continue to operate just three routes from the Midwest airport – Manchester, Stansted and Wroclaw.
The move has been facilitated by Shannon’s decision to lower its charges to airlines following what have been described as ‘tough negotiations’ with the airline.
CEO of Ryanair, Eddie Wilson, says the decision taken by Shannon has shown it’s capable of competing with other airports now and into the future.
Shannon Group has called the move ‘an early Christmas present’ for the airport, saying it will help them rebuild as a COVID-19 vaccine is rolled out in 2021.
It’s understood the return of an aircraft to Shannon will lead to the return of at least 30 full time jobs among pilots and cabin crews, while Ryanair says the new routes will help support around 300 more indirect jobs in the Midwest region.
Shannon’s agreement with Ryanair is a long-term one, and the Airport is also confident that Aer Lingus will operate flights to Heathrow, Boston and JFK Airports next summer as well.
However, it still expects to only welcome around 750,000 passengers next year, back by around 60% on the levels of 2019.
Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine says they may need further supports for another three years.
