This article is from page 8 of the 2012-11-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
WHILE questions may remain over the future management of Shannon Airport, business at the ailing airport got a boost yesterday with the announcement that daily transatlantic flights to Philadelphia will resume next year.
After a four-year absence, US Airways announced that it would begin the service on May 22, generating an additional 30,000 passengers through the airport next year.
The new flights to Philadelphia the sixth most populous city in the US – will operate on a daily basis with a two-class 176 seat Boeing 757 aircraft. The service will run until September 3, departing Shannon at 11.35am daily, and arriving in Philadelphia at 2.05pm local time. The return flight leaves Philadelphia at 9.05 p.m., arriving in Shannon at 8.40am the following day.
Welcoming the news, Mary Considine, Director of Shannon Airport said, “This is a great boost for Shannon as it adds another new transatlantic service for 2013. We are really pleased also to be welcoming US Airways back to Shannon and look forward to helping them build a strong base of business and leisure travellers to and from Philadelphia, as well as cities that they serve beyond the gateway.
“Philadelphia is a major hub for US Airways and offers onward connections to 175 destinations in the USA, Canada and the Caribbean so this opens up huge opportunities in terms of markets to and from Shannon through Philadelphia.”
Said Andrew Nocella, US Airways Senior Vice President, Marketing and Planning. “As a popular destination in Europe, US Airways is thrilled to return to Shannon with seasonal service from our international gateway at Philadelphia International Airport.
“Beginning next spring, our customers will again have non-stop access to both coasts of Ireland. Customers can begin their trip with the Cliffs of Moher outside of Shannon and end it with seeing all that Ireland has to offer. As an additional benefit, customers can clear U.S. customs and immigration before departing Shannon, allowing for a quick and efficient arrival experience at Philadelphia International Airport. Customers who receive pre-clearance at Shannon Airport arrive as domestic passengers, are able to check their baggage through to their final destination and ultimately reduce the amount of time needed to connect to their next flight.”