Airline Targets Low Cost Carrier Market

Shannon Airport may benefit from the launch of a Clare-owned low-cost executive jet airline, which is set to launch this September.

JetBird predicts it will carry 273,000 passengers a year when it has 100 aircraft, which would equate to roughly 2 per cent of the business air travel market today.

JetBird is the creation of Clare-born financier Domhnal Slattery and is backed by his Claret Capital private equity group, which in turn numbers Senator Feargal Quinn and his family as investors. Last September, a Saudi family paid €10 million for a 9.3 per cent stake in JetBird. The Irish airline is thought to be in talks with the Saudi investors about the possibility of launching a similar venture in the Middle East over the next three years. JetBird also secured $10 million in debt financing from Royal Bank of Scotland to pay for the delivery of aircraft.

Airline Targets Low Cost Carrier Market

Shannon Airport may benefit from the launch of a Clare-owned low-cost executive jet airline, which is set to launch this September.

JetBird predicts it will carry 273,000 passengers a year when it has 100 aircraft, which would equate to roughly 2 per cent of the business air travel market today.

JetBird is the creation of Clare-born financier Domhnal Slattery and is backed by his Claret Capital private equity group, which in turn numbers Senator Feargal Quinn and his family as investors. Last September, a Saudi family paid €10 million for a 9.3 per cent stake in JetBird. The Irish airline is thought to be in talks with the Saudi investors about the possibility of launching a similar venture in the Middle East over the next three years. JetBird also secured $10 million in debt financing from Royal Bank of Scotland to pay for the delivery of aircraft.

Teaching Experience Lost In Shannon

Schools in Shannon Town have lost around 170 years of teaching and managerial experience in the space of a week as four principals and one deputy principal have opted for early retirement, the Limerick Leader reports.

Some of the town's most experienced teachers are bowing out against a background of severe cutbacks in education and reduced pay packets for teachers, although it was stressed this week that these were not critical factors and everybody had individua But the cutbacks had certainly helped some make that decision, it was claimed.

Kevin Hehir (St Tola's NS), John O'Byrne (St Conaire's NS) and Mary Hanley (St Caimin's) have all announced their retirement in recent days. St Patrick's Comprehensive, meanwhile, is preparing to say goodbye to both principal Margaret O'Connell and deputy principal Anne Lucey.