Summary
- Shannon Airport is expecting its busiest Christmas period since 2009, with 121,000 passengers anticipated, reflecting the airport’s recovery from the pandemic.
- The airport will provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for passengers during the festive season, with a focus on top priorities and dedicated staff.
- The airport offers a variety of routes, including transatlantic services from Aer Lingus, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, enhancing connectivity and potential economic growth for Western Ireland.
Ireland’s Shannon Airport (SNN) is expecting a very busy festive period, with a massive surge in the number of people traveling through the airport to various destinations. The surge will result in SNN experiencing its most active December travel period since 2009, showing the airport’s continuous recovery since the pandemic.
14-year high at SNN
The airport detailed that over the Christmas holiday period, it expects to welcome 121,000 passengers, 18% more than last year, when 75,000 travelers entered the airport in late December 2022. As a result, 2023 will be the busiest Christmas period at SNN since 2009, with the rising passenger numbers reflecting the growing popularity of the airport in Ireland. Mary Considine, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Shannon Airport Group, remarked that it was “heartening” to see passengers returning to Ireland to loved ones or embarking on trips to reunite with their family members aboard. “Ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey for everyone during this festive season remains one of our top priorities,” Considine added, noting that the airport’s employees will be there for passengers traveling during the busy period. SNN’s priority will be to provide an easy and enjoyable experience over the next few weeks, considering the number of people the airport expects to welcome.
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“As we look towards the new year, we are delighted to offer 35 routes from Shannon Airport for 2024, among these our new daily seasonal service to New York – JFK with Delta Air Lines starting in May ’24.”
According to Cirium, an aviation analytics company, airlines have scheduled 850 flights from SNN. The most popular destination is London, with Aer Lingus expecting to operate 82 flights to London Heathrow Airport (LHR), while Ryanair has scheduled 46 and 30 flights to Stansted Airport (STN) and Gatwick Airport (LGW), respectively. Aer Lingus has also scheduled 59 transatlantic flights to the United States (US), deploying 29 flights to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and 21 itineraries to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
Photo: Airbus
In comparison, the airport had 836 flights from/to SNN in November 2023. By April 2024, when the International Air Transport Association (IATA) summer season 2024 will begin, the airport is set to have 1,103 return flights, including United Airlines offering services between SNN and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
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Transatlantic flights from SNN
With Delta Air Lines returning to the airport in May 2024, three carriers will offer transatlantic services from the Western Ireland airport: Aer Lingus, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. Cirium data showed that the two US-based carriers have scheduled transatlantic flights with Boeing 757s, while Aer Lingus will utilize its Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock
When Delta Air Lines announced that it would return to SNN, Considine remarked that the airport had worked hard with the airline to make those flights happen, adding that the flights would further boost SNN’s connectivity to the US. As a result, passengers will be able to reach global export markets more easily, while the region could attract additional foreign direct investment, helping drive Western Ireland’s economy.
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