Limerick: Shannon Airport and other regional airports are preparing to take advantage of restrictions imposed on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport. Shannon Airport is expected to handle five million passengers this year, up from its current capacity of two million, according to the Midwest Airport CEO’s statement to the government. This growth comes amid the potential for new flight services to be added at Shannon in response to shifting demand.
Dublin Airport, which currently manages 32 million passengers annually, has faced regulatory limits on the number of airline seats available in and out of the airport this winter and next summer, as part of efforts to control passenger flow. In light of these restrictions, the government has been exploring ways to redistribute passenger traffic to regional airports, including Shannon, Cork, and Knock, to alleviate pressure on Dublin. However, airlines have largely rejected the proposal, citing the majority of passengers prefer to travel through Dublin.
Mary Considine, CEO of Shannon Airport Group, informed the Minister of State for Transport, James Lawless, that with the necessary upgrades to the current terminal, Shannon Airport could potentially accommodate up to 10 million passengers. The Minister noted that passenger numbers at regional airports have been steadily increasing, with an 11% rise at Cork Airport and a 7% increase at Shannon Airport this year.
In response to growing demand and the capacity debate, the government has allocated €4.2 million in funding to both Shannon and Cork airports as part of the new Regional State Airport Sustainability Programme. This initiative aims to support sustainability upgrades, with the goal of sourcing up to 25% of the airports’ electricity needs from renewable energy once the project is completed.
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