Aer Lingus announce closure of Shannon Airport cargo facility

AER LINGUS has announced their plan to close their cargo facility at Shannon Airport.

The airline said that the decision to close the facility at the Mid-West airport before the end of 2024 had been taken following a review of its operation in Shannon.

In a statement, they said the level of cargo activity at the airport would not support the "significant capital investment" required by the current cargo building in Shannon.

Aer Lingus has confirmed that its parent group, International Airlines Group (IAG) Cargo is set to commence consultation with impacted staff in the coming weeks.

"Every effort was made in the last few years to secure additional cargo business for the Shannon facility both locally and by diverting cargo from other areas, but regretfully it was concluded that the Cargo operation for Ireland could no longer support a dedicated presence in Shannon, particularly in light of the fact that over 95% of all Shannon cargo travels by road to fly in or out of Dublin," the airline added.

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A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group, who manage operations at the airport, said they were "sorry to see the operation cease."

"We will work closely with Aer Lingus to explore potential opportunities that may arise in the future, ensuring that our airport continues to be a key hub for both passenger and cargo operations".

"Shannon has a strong cargo operation, and we will continue to work with our other cargo operators at Shannon Airport among these, DHL, UPS and FedEx. We remain dedicated to serving our community and supporting the growth and resilience of our regional economy. Our focus is on maintaining the highest levels of service and connectivity for our customers, and we will continue to seek ways to attract new business and investment to our airport," the spokesperson added.

SIPTU have released a statement saying its members working at the Aer Lingus cargo facility "were left shocked and saddened by a sudden announcement" on Wednesday, August 7, that the cargo operation is set to close.

SIPTU Industrial Organiser, Andrew Clune said: "Our members were called into a meeting on Wednesday afternoon where management announced the closure to them. They were totally shocked and saddened by this devastating news."

SIPTU Aviation Sector Organiser, Niall Phillips said: “The union has been in contact with Aer Lingus management and a meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, August 15, to discuss the closure and the implications it will have for the 18 SIPTU members employed by Aer Lingus in their Shannon cargo operation.

"At the meeting we will be prioritising redeployment over redundancies. Under the Protection of Employment Act employers proposing a collective redundancy must engage in an information and consultation process with employees' representatives for at least 30 days prior to issuing any notices of redundancy,"Mr Philips continued.

"SIPTU will be working diligently to ensure that the rights of our members are protected throughout this process." 

Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Transport and Aviation Cathal Crowe said he was "very concerned" over the news.

"I have been speaking to a number of employees this morning and they are devastated with this news and are understandably very worried about their futures," the Clare TD said in a statement.

"This news also has serious ramifications for the many manufacturing plants in the region who depend on this facility to transit their products globally and they now have to scramble to find alternative routes."

"I will be using my voice as Party Spokesperson on Transport and Aviation to ensure that Aer Lingus fulfil all statutory obligations to their employees and I hope redeployment packages will also be offered to workers who wish to remain with the airline in Shannon," he said.