This article is from page 20 of the 2013-11-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
THERE was a double boost for Shannon Airport yesterday with the news that traffic volume continued to grow in the Clare airport in October and the announcement by Aer Lingus of a number of new routes for 2014.
According to figures from Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the numbers of commercial planes using Shannon Airport in October was 1, 582 – or 51 per day. This represents a 1.5 per cent increase on the same period in 2012 and draws Shannon Airport closer to passing out Cork Airport and reclaiming its position of Ireland’s second most used airport.
There was a further boost for Shannon yesterday as Aer Lingus announcing a new service between Shannon Airport and Malaga in 2014 and an increase infrequency on a number of other routes. A twiceweekly service between Shannon and Malaga will begin from March 30, at a cost of € 66.99.
Aer Lingus will increase frequencies on transatlantic routes from Shannon to New York and Boston, almost doubling its schedule between the two US hubs and upgrading the flights to a year-round service.
Flights between Shannon and New York will be increased three to six return flights per week while flights to Boston will be increase from three flight per week to a daily service.
Meanwhile, there was more good news for Shannon Airport chairperson and North Clare businesswoman, Rose Hynes, who won the President’s Award at the annual Limerick Chamber of Commerce Regional Business Awards held last Friday.
“We are making lots of progress. But we must do an awful lot more, and we will.
“People have to use Shannon, and to see Shannon as their airport. This is my message – the one way to get more flights and more routes, is to fill the ones we have,” she said while accepting the award.