Ryanair boss praises Shannon Airport for punching 'well above its weight'
'It is not competing with Dublin - it is competing with airports such as Marseilles'
The CEO of Ryanair has praised Shannon Airport, saying that it “punches well above its weight and will live on its own merits” at a business luncheon.
Guest of honour at a Shannon Chamber luncheon, Eddie Wilson said Shannon Airport would benefit if the Government permanently included it in the Regional Airport Programme.
In his address, he also shedded some light on Ryanair’s business model, which was described as a “rare insight” into the company’s procedures.
Turning his attention to Shannon, where Ryanair has invested €300m and supports 1,200 jobs, Mr Wilson said that “Ryanair wants to see” the cap of the Regional Airport Programme “lifted”.
“Shannon is operating in a very competitive environment for scarce capacity in regional airports,” Mr Wilson said.
“It is not competing with Dublin - it is competing with airports such as Marseilles, so it needs to stay competitive. Airlines will put aircraft in airports with the lowest cost base - that’s why Shannon needs to stay competitive,” he said.
Members of Shannon Chamber heard a “fast-paced presentation, delivered with flair and humour” by Mr Wilson, who said that cost and a unique culture has positioned Ryanair as the number one airline for lowest fares, on-time performance, reliability, and environmental sustainability.
Shannon Chamber president, Eoin Gavin, welcomed the investment Ryanair is making in Shannon, in terms of route development and aircraft maintenance.
He said Shannon and the region can deliver a lot more, to companies and overseas visitors if the Government delivers on its commitment to balanced regional development, which includes undertaking a review of the National Aviation Policy, which has not been reviewed since 2015.
Regardless of airport caps, which he said is Dublin’s issue, he said that a review of the National Aviation Policy is essential.
“Managing within the cap of 32 million passengers creates a challenge that can be addressed by redistributing traffic across other airports in Ireland. We say this against a background where nearly 40% of Ireland’s population lives within the catchment area of Shannon Airport, while 38% of visitors arriving at Dublin Airport ultimately head to the West of Ireland.
“Shannon Airport, with its existing infrastructure, can instantly absorb an additional 3 million passengers without the need for any further upgrades, providing an immediate and practical solution to ease the pressure on Dublin.
“This situation presents an opportunity to strengthen Ireland’s regional airports and improve connectivity across the country.”
The Shannon Chamber luncheon at Dromoland Castle Hotel was sponsored by The Shannon Airport Group and supported by Clare County Council, AirNav, Frosch Ireland, AIB, Cliffs of Moher, Dromoland Castle and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park.