REVEALED: Ryanair confirm four new routes from Shannon Airport amid major $400m investment

The Shannon Airport Group are "delighted" following Ryanair's announcement of four new routes from Shannon. 

With flights soon to be available to Rome, Warsaw, Poznań and Madrid, together with a fourth based aircraft for summer 2026, this represents a $400 million investment. 

Alongside the four new routes, the airline is further expanding its Shannon schedule next summer, with increased frequency on five popular routes, including Manchester, Alicante, Barcelona-Reus, Lanzarote and Malta.

This expansion brings Ryanair’s total summer 2026 offering from Shannon to 30 routes, the largest number ever operated by the airline from the airport. With 1.4 million seats, including an additional 180,000 seats across the summer months, this represents a 15% increase in seats compared to the same time last year, providing even more choice and flexibility for passengers across the country.

READ MORE: 'Huge relief': Two local Clare post offices 'saved' amid concerns for their future

Welcoming the announcement, Ray O’Driscoll, Interim CEO of The Shannon Airport Group said: “We’re delighted to welcome Ryanair’s continued commitment to Shannon Airport with the addition of a fourth based aircraft, four new summer ‘26 services to Rome, Warsaw, Poznań and Madrid, as well as increased frequencies on five key routes. This expansion is a strong vote of confidence in Shannon’s growth trajectory. It reflects our ongoing investment in infrastructure and passenger experience, as well as our strong commitment to working with airline partners to expand our route network and deliver greater choice for customers across the country.

"These new services enhance Shannon’s connectivity to key European cities, supporting tourism, trade and regional development, and will be warmly welcomed by both holiday makers and business travellers alike.”

Ryanair’s CCO, Jason McGuinness said: “We are delighted to celebrate the news that Ryanair will base a fourth aircraft in Shannon for Summer 2026 alongside the announcement of four new routes to Rome, Madrid, Warsaw and Poznan, in addition to extra flights to popular sun and city destinations Alicante, Lanzarote, Manchester, Malta and Reus. Next Summer Ryanair’s US$400m investment in the Midwest will deliver more than 1.4m low-fare seats from Shannon to a record 30 European destinations.

"Ryanair’s fourth based aircraft and $400m investment in Shannon is a clear commitment to growing Ireland’s regional connectivity. This summer, Shannon will benefit from +180,000 (+15%) additional seats and four new routes thanks to the hard work of The Shannon Airport Group, who recognise the need for efficient, cost-competitive facilities to attract growth and drive inbound tourism to the region, supporting year-round international connectivity. However, the Irish Government needs to support regional airports by expanding the scope of the Regional Airports Programme 2026-30 to at least 3 million passengers per annum, which would allow regional airports to grow traffic even more without being penalised for doing so," he concluded. 

Passengers will enjoy twice weekly flights on three of the new routes. Flights to Rome commence on March 31 and will run on Tuesdays and Saturdays; flights to Poznań will run from March 31, also on Tuesdays and Saturdays; and the year-round service to Madrid will switch to Wednesdays and Sundays for the summer season, beginning 31 March as well. There will be four weekly flights to Warsaw from March 30 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The latest announcement builds on Ryanair’s decision earlier this year to introduce a fourth based aircraft at Shannon Airport and to operate new routes to Lapland, Madeira and Madrid from Shannon for winter 2025/2026, also increasing capacity on six existing popular routes - Alicante, Edinburgh, Kraków, Lanzarote, Manchester, and Wrocław over the winter period.