This article is from page 4 of the 2012-01-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
OFFICAL passenger numbers through Shannon Airport in 2011 are set for another drop, but the drastic fall-off experienced in 2010 has been stabilized with figures of over 1.6m recorded for the year.
Shannon Airport Authority marketing director Declan Power has revealed that passenger numbers in Shannon have now bottomed out, with early projections saying that figures for 2012 will be along 2011 lines.
In 2010 passenger numbers through Shannon dropped by one million over the previous year. This drop represented a 37 percent decline in passenger traffic, a 12-year low at Shannon.
Only 1,755,885 passengers used Shannon in 2010. The drastic fall-off in numbers, from 2,794,563 in 2009 represented the fourth year in a row that Shannon’s passenger count when into sharp decline.
Between 2004 and 2006 passenger numbers increased by a record 37.9 per cent as Shannon’s numbers grew to a record 3,639,046 from 2,395,116 over a two-year period.
The drop in traffic was attributed to Ryanair’s decision to drastically cut its Shannon operation – from having 53 routes that accounted for 1.9m passengers in early 2009 the lowcost carrier now only has 300,000 passengers in Shannon.
“That traffic was there during the boom time in the economy, it is not there now,” said Declan Power in arguing the case that it’s good for Shannon that it no longer has a dominant carrier like Ryanair.
“Before we had the Ryanair base, we had five or six different foreign carriers in Shannon and they were all driven out. Now we have to get back to the start again and go back to what we were good at and get other airlines to fly in.
“Politicians state that Shannon should give everything away for free so that we get the business in, but we have an airport to run. We have to pay for a € 6 million overlay on the runway, basic facilities have to be paid for, the lighting and the heating and security,” he added.
Mr Power also pointed out that 80 per cent of the passenger numbers provided by Ryanair were Irish people travelling abroad.
Stephen McCOY
of Loughash, Newmarket-on-Fergus. Late of The Strand,Walshestown, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath. Tragically. Laid to rest in Lemanagh Cemetery. Date of death: Saturday, December 31, 2011. May he rest in peace.
Tess McMAHON,
(née McGuane) of Greygrove, Kilmihil. Late of Coore. Laid to rest in Kilmihil cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Bridie KAYE
, (née O’Gorman) of Ballycotton Liscannor. At St.Theresa’s nursing home Kilrush, relict of the late Percy, (Manchester). Laid to rest at St Brigid’s Well cemetery. Date of death:Tuesday, January 03. May she rest in peace.
Mary WARD
of 13 Fergus Road, Shannon. Buried in Lemenagh Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Michael (Buddy) PURCELL
of Ballyduff, Barefield, Ennis. Suddenly. Donations, if desired, to the ICU, University Hospital Galway. Date of death:Tuesday, January 03, 2012. Laid to rest inTemplemaley Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Teresa MULHERN,
(née Hehir) of Main Street, Kildysart. laid to rest in the local cemetery in Kildysart. Date of death:Wednesday, January 04, 2012. May she rest in peace.
Mrs Bridget (Bridg) Keating,
(née Moloney) of Oughterard, Cross, Kilrush. Peacefully at home in the loving care of her family. Laid to rest in Kilballyowen Cemetery Cross. Date of death:Thursday, January 05. May she rest in peace.
Nancy CRAWFORD
of Connolly. Laid to rest in Mount Temple Cemetery, Kilmaley. May she rest in peace.
Lena BROWNE,
(née Culligan) of Kilmurry McMahon, Kilrush. Laid to rest in the Kilmurry McMahon cemetery. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to Unit 1, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Ennis. Date of death:Thursday, January 05, 2012. May she rest in peace.
Doris BERND
of Mahonbourgh, Inch, Ennis. Cremated privately on Saturday, January 7. May she rest in peace.
Mary WALSH,
(néeTuttle) of TLCNursing Home Santry, Dublin and late of Quin and Ennis, Clare. Peacefully, after a short illness. Laid to rest in Drumcliff Cemetery. Date of death: Saturday, January 07, 2012. May she rest in peace.
Vida SANCHEZ
of Elton Court, Meelick. Deeply regretted by her husband Fernando, son Jaden, daughter Caitlin, mother, brothers and sisters, other relatives, neighbours and friends. Laid to rest in Ballycannon Cemetery, Meelick. May she rest in peace.
Jake Marcus O’TOOLE
of Kilrush. Formerly of Lucan Co. Dublin. Peacefully, in the loving care of the staff at St.Vincent’s Hospital, ElmPark, Dublin.A Service of Remembrance will be celebrated onTuesday afternoon in Newlands Cross Crematoriumat 2pm. Family flowers only, Please. RequiemMass will be celebrated in St. Senan’s, Church, Kilrush. Date of death: Friday, January 06, 2012. May he rest in peace.
Rebecca KELLY
of Kincora Park, Ennis. Formerly of Bealnalicka, Ruan. Laid to rest in Dysart Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Frank (Francis) HALPIN
of 82Tullyvarragh Crescent, Shannon. Late of Knockainey, Co Limerick and Customs and Excise and Shannon Estuary Port. Funeral Mass onTuesday at 11am. Burial afterwards in Knockainey Hill Cemetery. Date of death: Saturday, January 07, 2012. May he rest in peace.
Robert WATCHORN,
Kildimo, Miltown Malbay. Funeral Mass onTuesday at 11 o’clock with burial after in Ballard cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Mattie FENNEL,
43 Moore Street Kilrush – Peacefully at Ennis General Hospital. May he rest in peace. Funeral arriving at St Senans Church, Kilrush, on Tuesday for 11 o’clock Mass with burial in new Shanakyle cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Paul KEANE,
Ballymaconna Barefield. Funeral mass onTuesday at 11. Burial after in Kilraghtis cemetery. May he rest in peace.