Ryanair is to add two new routes at Shannon Airport next summer and base a third aircraft at the airport, creating an additional 30 jobs.
The new routes, which will link the airport with Béziers in the South of France and Newcastle in the UK, will begin operating from Shannon in late March. The twice-weekly Béziers service will run Mondays and Saturdays from March 27th, while the Newcastle service will run three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from March 26th.
This brings to 24 the number of routes Ryanair operates from the airport, with more than 180 weekly flights to be scheduled next summer.
Mary Considine, chief executive of the Shannon Airport Group, said the move demonstrated the airline’s commitment to the airport and was another vote of confidence in Shannon.
“Days like today, when an airline announces new services, are always very encouraging, not only for the general public, but for those at the coalface of the tourism industry here and right along the Wild Atlantic Way, who rely on our air services to bring international visitors to their doors,” she said.
Ryanair, which has been operating for 35 years from Shannon, operates 60 flights per week from the airport, the largest winter schedule it has operated there.
Separately, Aer Lingus said on Thursday it was recommencing its daily service to Hartford, Connecticut, from Dublin. Hartford will be the airline’s 16th transatlantic route from Ireland, with the service to start again on March 26th. The Dublin route will be the only direct service between Hartford and Europe.
