Shannon Airport has received more recognition for the strides made in the 18 months since it achieved independence, claiming one of the top honours at the inaugural Irish Aviation Industry Awards.
Shannon claimed the first Airport Achievement Award at the aviation awards, sponsored by the Irish Aviation Authority, in recognition of the airport’s impressive start to life as an independent entity.
This award is in addition to Shannon Airport’s Highly Commended at the Routes Europe Airport Marketing Awards in April and last October’s World Routes Awards – the only Irish airport shortlisted in either.
More than 120 entries were submitted for the awards by more than 70 companies, from airlines to lessors and maintenance operators. The categories included best in the fields of airports, air operators, leasing achievements, education and training, innovation, environment and safety.
Speaking after the awards, Airport chairman Rose Hynes said Shannon’s success in winning the Airport Achievement Award was a tremendous endorsement of the hard work and commitment of management and staff since the airport became an independent entity in January of last year.
“It is early stages yet with the overall Shannon project and we have a lot of work to do, but we have made a really good start to life as an independent entity.
“Shannon is a different place today than it was over 18 months ago as the ‘can-do’ attitude that typified the airport over the decades is back. This award is deserved acknowledgement, in particular, for the efforts of management and staff at Shannon in starting to turn this airport around.”
Passenger numbers up
Shannon passenger numbers are up 15 per cent on Aer Lingus Regional routes, operated by Stobart Air. The increase was for the month of May 2014, compared to the same period last year. There were particularly strong performance of its Shannon routes to Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Commenting on Shannon’s passenger numbers, Simon Fagan, chief commercial officer at Stobart Air said:
“We are extremely delighted at the growing passenger numbers on our Shannon network. In April we launched a new route from Shannon to Bristol and expanded other routes which have contributed to such positive figures for the month of May.
“This has been the eleventh consecutive month of growth for the airline and our Shannon routes are a key part of the airline’s growth plan in the months and years to come.”
