Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IT’S A GOOD day for Shannon Airport as it was just announced tonight that it had landed its greatest industry accolade by winning the overall Airport Achievement Award for 2014/2015 from the European Airline Association (ERA).
The award, was announced at a ceremony in Barcelona, Spain, tonight, and follows another win for the airport at the World Routes Awards in Chicago. This is the first time an Irish airport has been presented with the overall ERA award, which was established as the ‘ERA Airport of the Year Award’ in 2002.
The airport was singled out for ending five years of what judges noted was “seemingly interminable decline” by attracting new airline customers and making a profit in its first year as an independent entity.
The judges were also impressed by how independence from the national airport authority was used by management to concentrate on the needs of the local community and stakeholders. Another reason cited for Shannon’s selection for the top honour was how it had put itself at the very heart of the community in the region.
Last year, in just its first year as an independent entity, Shannon managed to halt five successive years of passenger numbers decline and significant losses by breaking even and marginally growing passenger numbers. This year the airport hopes to achieve double digit growth on the back of securing a range of new routes, particularly across its European network.
Shannon Group plc CEO Neil Pakey said that the Airport Achievement Award validated the efforts of all at Shannon, as well as the region, in turning the airport’s fortunes around since independence was achieved.
“We continue in our efforts to turn the airport’s fortunes in the right direction and this award is a great honour for Shannon, not least given it is the outright award from the European Regions Airline Association. To be the first Irish airport ever to win it is also a huge achievement,” he said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Well done, long may it last!
Surely this was a conveniently made up award, awarded by a conveniently made up organisation to suit a conveniently made up agenda in order to dupe the dull public and rake in about, well Shannon on a busy day (?) shall we say €429?
I was in Shannon recently.. i have to say it was buzzing… … i only wish i could say the same about declining Cork Airport… well done Shannon well deserved..
Well Cork is still run by the DAA, if we were allowed to run itself, it would see improvements similar to shannon
Exactly. Shannon is clearly flourishing now that its not being run by proxy by the DAA. The Dublin Airport Authoriitys main concern is Dublin Airport, Cork Airport will always play second fiddle while its under DAAs remit. It’s a pity because Cork is a nice modern and easily manageable Airport.
Set Cork Airport Free!
I would Love to know what Corks High Profile Politicians are doing about the Airport… we needs jobs here in Cork.. Land in Cork and your in the City in a few mins… or at a business meeting .. We also need Long Haul flights for the Major Players that have set up here in Cork.. Tourism is increasing again .. Obviously Cork Is a Major Threat to Dublin…
Wasn’t this airport bailed out by the then minister for transport Leo loose lips varadkar
Well done SNN!!
We used it two years ago and it was brilliant! So relaxed and the long stay parking is so close to terminal.
Haven’t been in Shannon in many years it used to be pretty grim but clearly it’s come on a lot since then as has Dublin Airport who also used to be a dump but it’s actually a really nice airport now (more so T2)
Shannon has been discriminated against for long enough; everything projected towards little Dublin.
It should be 3 times bigger.
I doubt there are enough customers to justify it being 3 times bigger
Patrick, Shannon was not discriminated against. It was, for decades, discriminated in favour of! Have you forgotten the mandatory Shannon stop ever which added huge costs for airlines by artificially boosting Shannon’s business? It has also received considerable subsidies over the years. I am genuinely glad to see it doing so well since the positive discrimination in favour of the airport has been ceased and it is now under more local ownership. Shannon should not be three times bigger and could not be without closing Knock and Cork airports. The catchment area does not have sufficient population. So please less of the poor victim hat and let’s simply celebrate a good news story.
Shannon? Sure thats a kip. Dublin is way better, proper airport.
Amazing news, fair play to all involved. Now they should do the same to Cork airport.
With €100 million write off, why wouldn’t it be in profit
this is a surprise but a welcome surprise. i always thought shannon airport was a dead duck. i know cork airport for a while back was giving shannon airport a run for its money with new and regular flights to destinations that people want to go. outside of the states i am unaware of what destinations go from shannon but any way well done shannon airport
The DAA running Snn & Cork… now who’s the bright spark who thought that was going to work…their probably shocked now that Snn’s booming & Cork’s screwed!
They’re not shocked at all. They needed to justify building T2.
Now that’s done, they can only afford to release one airport to compete. Shannon won out on the basis that subsuming Shannon Development into the IDA didn’t work, either – releasing both as a new combined entity was the simple way out.
Personally, I think they felt that the loss of Dell had hobbled the region to the point that there was no threat, whereas Cork has good jobs growth in terms of Pharma and Tech, and were more likely to be a contender…
Well done Shannon. … Can you ask your friends at the daa to get a grip
There are more routes out of limerick junction than Shannon !!!
You obviously haven’t been there recently… it is booming after gaining independence from the DAA, who only concentrate on Dublin Airport, which is evident from the modern day Cork Airport.
Oh thats great news. Neil Pakey who was instrumental in John Lennon Airports’ success has worked wonders since he became boss of Shannon Airport.
Its a lovely easy going airport. No hassle. And isnt that what we all want.
Jesus Seán, Cork is not discriminated against by Dublin. It is a poorly run airport compared to Shannon and there are too many international airports in the region so it faces stiff competition. It also has a small population catchment area. Dublin airport is adjacent to the capital of Ireland and like all capital airports will do pretty well because of economics of scale. Get the bloody chip off your shoulder. Not everything is a conspiracy against Cork. This is simply economics. No comparable country of our size has as many international airports. Local politics again! If you want Cork to thrive you could agitate to close down Shannon and have one international airport in a region which has a population which only merits one. On the other hand why penalise a well run innovative airport such as Shannon to revive the moribund Cork airport? Close down Cork and boost Shannon!
Wow, John – that post is so far from correct as to almost be satire. You are correct on only one point, though – Cork Airport may be poorly run, but since it’s being run by DAA from Dublin, that’s hardly a surprise.
“No comparable country of our size has as many international airports” – Scotland has 5, Denmark 4, Finland 12, Slovakia 3, New Zealand 6, Croatia 7, and Georgia 4. All of those are comparable in terms of population to Ireland, and many are smaller in terms of land area.
Utter nonsense…
The Daa are/were to blame for the poor management in the 3 airports.
Watcher on the wall I only saw this post now. You were obviously up late! I was making a more general point but should have been more specific which was that it makes no sense for a country the size of Ireland with our dispersed population to have as many international airports as we do. This has investment consequences as well as operational consequences. Finland is nearly five times our size which dictates their need for more airports. Denmark has twice our population density. New Zealand is 3.5 times our size and is spread over numerous islands which dictates their need for more airports. Slovakia has a much higher population density than Ireland. Georgia is an ex-Soviet basket case and of no relevance (they also have numerous military airports – should we follow suit?) Croatia’s is a very long country (Adriatic Sea mainland coast is 1,777 kilometres long) compared to Ireland (468 km long) and has 67 inhabited islands. So in virtually every case they have substantial reasons for having as many international airports due either to population density and size of the country. I do not believe that Ireland can economically sustain as many international airports as we currently have and maintain and invest in them into the future. Airports are inherently investment heavy and Cork and Shannon and Knock have received massive State investment which they can never repay. Does it make sense to continue this into the future or should Ireland consolidate its airports? We now have an extensive motorway network which did not exist when these airports were built.
Finally, it is my understanding that the DAA has transferred significant day-to-day operational responsibility to the board of Cork airport. Is this not correct? I fully support the independence of Cork airport and so does the Dublin Airport Authority I imagine. The sooner the better . But Cork Airport will not survive economically with its current debt. So who will take on this debt: Dublin Airport or the State (i.e.. the taxpayer)?
John – so which countries are you including in your statement “No comparable country of our size..”, then, since according to you every example I provided of countries with similar populations and stages of development doesn’t seem to meet the “comparable” criteria, for various reasons…
Your reasoning on Finland, Croatia and New Zealand directly contradict your statement “…it makes no sense for a country the size of Ireland with our dispersed population to have as many international airports…”.
A dispersed population would certainly justify the need for more regional airports and airfields, but we were talking specifically about International Airports (Incidentally, Finland has a total of 25 airports and well over 50 airfields, Croatia has 23 airports with paved runways and a further 45 unpaved, & New Zealand has a total of 73 airports – by contrast Ireland has a total of 42 airports and airfields)
As for the smaller countries with higher population density – surely that would imply that less airports (but with higher capacity) are needed as the populations are relatively close to the airport?
As for your point on the economic sustainability of our International Airports, you may well be right – but until such time as a proper road and rail infrastructure exists between Limerick/Shannon and Cork, there is no sense to amalgamating them into one main International airport.
On your final point, day-to-day operational responsibility is not the same thing as strategic and fiscal control, which is the bit necessary to drive innovative growth. Another point to note is that the €113m debt was incurred by the DAA, and Cork Airport took on responsibility for the debt in exchange for autonomy, which they’re still waiting for.
It’s a pity one can’t get to barcelona from shannon.
I love Shannon Airport! It’s so much more pleasant than going through Dublin. You’re out in ten minutes.
Zurich only has flights to Dublin and they’re at such crappy times that it’s very difficult to get to Limerick for a weekend. If they started a Ryanair flight to Basel, even, it would open the West up to Switzerland and Alsace, both for tourism and for business (especially pharma).
Well done Shannon and to all involved. Well deserved
Christy + Puff O Connor
And yet I was still able to board a flight without anyone seeing my passport. I only ever get early morning/late night flights to/from Shannon so it seems pretty miserable any time I’ve been, but I can’t say anything about it the rest of the time.
“War Port of the Year” more appropriate..
Good man :)
Won that one too… it’s on display in the departures lounge, but it’s camouflaged, so not easily spotted… or it could be a false flag to hide the fact that Donetsk airport really won…
have your say