Over 1.95 million passengers through Shannon Airport in 2023

SHANNON Airport had a strong growth surge in 2023 with 1.958 million passengers welcomed to the airport, a 29 per cent increase on 2022 activity.

This strong performance saw the airport achieve its highest passenger numbers since 2009, 14 years ago

“These results are a testament to the hard work of our team across the Shannon Airport group, the loyalty of our customers and stakeholders, and support from Government" said Mary Considine, CEO, commenting on the group’s positive performance in 2023.

"Shannon Airport’s temporary inclusion in the Regional Airports Programme helped us enormously to rebuild in the aftermath of Covid-19, and in 2023, much welcome Government funding supported our airport operation.

"Ultimately, Shannon Airport’s permanent inclusion in the Regional Airports Programme will deliver economic benefits for Ireland, aligning as it does with the Government’s own ambitions for ensuring balanced regional development," Ms Considine continued.

Shannon Airport’s service offering was boosted considerably in 2023 with new Ryanair services to destinations including Naples, Porto, Béziers and Liverpool, as well as additional capacity on some popular destinations, particularly during peak holiday times and school holidays.

Another highlight of 2023 was the launch of the new Aer Lingus service to the hub airport of Paris Charles de Gaulle and the launch by United Airlines of a new daily Chicago service.

Passengers can look forward to even more transatlantic services in 2024 with the return of the Delta Air Lines daily seasonal service from Shannon to New York JFK beginning in May, bringing the total number of US services from Shannon to five.

Looking ahead, Ms Considine expressed confidence in the upcoming year, and  highlighted the potential for the Shannon Estuary to become a major global hub for renewable energy, focusing on offshore wind energy.

"The strategic location of Shannon Airport offers huge potential for the development of sustainable aviation technology and the production of green fuel for the aviation sector, as recommended by the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Report," she said.