Shannon-based Senator Tony Mulcahy says the news that passenger numbers at Shannon Airport increased by 28% last month compared to October 2013 has highlighted the capacity of Shannon Group plc to compete independently for business “without the dead hand of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA)”.
Figures released by Shannon Group plc show the biggest gains in passengers through the terminal were on European services, which increased by 111% increase (from 20,347 to 42,950). Transatlantic passengers were up by 15% (from 23,511 to 27,108).
Senator Mulcahy said Shannon's separation from the DAA has been "central to the airport's reversal of fortunes following years of seemingly irreversible decline."
Senator Mulcahy continued: "Even up to the moment autonomy was secured for Shannon there were some people, particularly in Fianna Fáil, who suggested that Shannon would be better off remaining under the control of the DAA. I am glad that this Government took the necessary steps to deliver an independent Shannon Airport which was the culmination of years of lobbying from public bodies, regional development agencies and private organisations in the Mid West Region."
“As a member of Clare County Council in 2007, I was one of 32 Councillors to back a motion requesting that Shannon be freed from the shackles of the DAA after the Authority’s failure to prevent Aer Lingus from axing its Shannon to Heathrow services. It took six years for autonomy to be finally granted but we most definitely have seen a significant expansion in services since this landmark handover occurred," he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Mulcahy has called on the people of the West of Ireland to support services to and from Shannon Airport during the winter season, including services to Berlin, Bristol, Fuerteventura, Krakow, Paris and Warsaw. He also appealed to businesses, particularly those in the tourism and hospitality sector, to continue to promote the Airport.
"The onus is on the people and businesses of Clare and beyond to support the airport and ensure its growth into the future," Senator Mulcahy concluded.
Figures released by Shannon Group plc show the biggest gains in passengers through the terminal were on European services, which increased by 111% increase (from 20,347 to 42,950). Transatlantic passengers were up by 15% (from 23,511 to 27,108).
Senator Mulcahy said Shannon's separation from the DAA has been "central to the airport's reversal of fortunes following years of seemingly irreversible decline."
Senator Mulcahy continued: "Even up to the moment autonomy was secured for Shannon there were some people, particularly in Fianna Fáil, who suggested that Shannon would be better off remaining under the control of the DAA. I am glad that this Government took the necessary steps to deliver an independent Shannon Airport which was the culmination of years of lobbying from public bodies, regional development agencies and private organisations in the Mid West Region."
“As a member of Clare County Council in 2007, I was one of 32 Councillors to back a motion requesting that Shannon be freed from the shackles of the DAA after the Authority’s failure to prevent Aer Lingus from axing its Shannon to Heathrow services. It took six years for autonomy to be finally granted but we most definitely have seen a significant expansion in services since this landmark handover occurred," he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Mulcahy has called on the people of the West of Ireland to support services to and from Shannon Airport during the winter season, including services to Berlin, Bristol, Fuerteventura, Krakow, Paris and Warsaw. He also appealed to businesses, particularly those in the tourism and hospitality sector, to continue to promote the Airport.
"The onus is on the people and businesses of Clare and beyond to support the airport and ensure its growth into the future," Senator Mulcahy concluded.
