Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Strange Nature Gin from New Zealand, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
IRELAND. Our selection comes from Shannon Airport owner and operator Shannon Airport Group, which today celebrates its tenth anniversary.
The company has achieved a key milestone with Shannon Airport expected to serve over 2 million passengers for the first time since 2009, driven by a €178 million investment in airport infrastructure and commercial property under the group’s expansion strategy.
A 2023 independent report by Oxford Economics reveals that The Shannon Airport Group contributes almost €4 billion annually to Ireland’s GDP each year, supports more than 20,300 jobs and generates €643 million in tax revenues.
Serving 33 destinations across Europe, the UK and the USA, the airport has largely benefitted from Delta Air Lines’ recently launched New York-JFK service and additional flights to nine key summer destinations such as Alicante, Faro and Lanzarote.
Shannon remains the only airport along the Wild Atlantic Way route to offer transatlantic flights to New York, Newark, Boston and Chicago. Additional capacity has been added on many of the popular routes for winter 2024/2025.
Celebrated for its history of innovation and world firsts (including, courtesy of Dr Brendan O’Regan, the first airport duty-free store), the Shannon Airport team has continued to build on this legacy during the past decade.
Shannon Airport made history in 2017 as the first European travel gateway to introduce a sensory room designed for passengers with additional and neurodivergent requirements.
It is also one of the first airports to receive Age Friendly Status from the World Health Organisation for its commitment to making travel as inclusive as possible for people of all ages.
Shannon remains one of only two airports in Europe to offer Preclearance to USA-bound passengers. The introduction of a Mobile Passport Control app in February has optimised this process by enabling passengers to complete part of the preclearance process ahead of their arrival at the airport.
Shannon Airport is instrumental in reshaping Ireland’s aviation sector by easing congestion at Dublin Airport, boosting connectivity and supporting the government’s goal of a more balanced regional economy.
Over the past ten years, The Shannon Airport Group’s commercial property business has achieved notable growth, enhancing its reputation as a key hub for various industries. Central to this success is the Shannon Airport Business Park, located on the expansive Shannon Campus.
As the largest multi-sectoral business park outside of Dublin, the Shannon Airport Business Park is a thriving ecosystem that hosts over 300 companies. These businesses represent a wide range of industries, including life sciences, aviation, autonomous vehicles, engineering and medical devices. Collectively, they employ more than 10,000 professionals who are at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement.
Reinforcing its commitment to building a more sustainable future for both people and the planet, The Shannon Airport Group emphasises the critical importance of minimising its carbon footprint.
The company has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by -51% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest. It also is actively working with ESB to explore the potential for a green hydrogen facility in Shannon.
Recently, The Shannon Airport Group was granted planning permission for a 1.2MW Photovoltaic Solar Farm on a 5.5-acre site within the airfield at Shannon Airport. This innovative project will make Shannon Airport the site of Ireland’s first solar farm on an airfield, with the capacity to supply 15-20% of the airport’s electrical requirements from renewable energy upon its completion.
The group’s sustainability efforts are also deeply embedded in its extensive commercial property portfolio. It is leading the construction of new commercial property developments and upgrade of existing facilities to NZEB and LEED standards.
The Shannon Airport Group CEO Mary Considine said: “As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Shannon Airport Group, we reflect with immense pride on our progress and achievements over the past decade. From the significant growth at Shannon Airport, with this year set to be the busiest since 2009, to investing over €178 million in infrastructure and property upgrades, we are very proud of our journey to date.
“We are more than just an airport, we are driving tourism, trade and economic growth. The economic impact of the Group was nearly €4 billion according to the most recent report by Oxford Economics, while we also support 20,300 jobs in the Midwest, underscoring the significant role we play in driving the region forward.”
“This success would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our incredible team, our valued customers, our dedicated partners, government and all the other stakeholders who have supported our journey. This spirit of collaboration has been the foundation of our success, and I wish to extend my gratitude to everyone who has played a part in our story so far.
“Looking to the future, we are more committed than ever to continuing our legacy of innovation, sustainability, and economic development, ensuring a brighter, greener future for the Midwest region and beyond.”
