Shannons Glasgow route............

Shannon Airport: Glasgow route only the first says SAA chairman Rose Hynes

AS a new year-round service from Shannon to Glasgow was confirmed, SAA chairman Rose Hynes has promised there is “more to come”.

Management at the newly independent airport are convinced that 2013 will reverse the slide in passenger numbers, which have dropped every year since 2006.

New seasonal services to Chicago (United), Philadelphia (US Airways) and Faro (Aer Lingus) were announced late in 2012 but Flybe’s thrice-weekly service to Glasgow is the first new route announced by the airport since its formal separation from the DAA on January 1. Commencing in early May, the UK airline is offering an additional 10,000 seats through Shannon in 2013 - on a route dropped by Ryanair over a year ago.

Shannon Airport managing director Mary Considine commented: “this is excellent news for Shannon Airport as it not alone delivers a new route to Glasgow but also a new airline customer to the premier gateway airport for the West of Ireland”.

“The Glasgow route was last operated in October 2011 and we are delighted to restore links to once again, not least with a strong marketing programme in place to ensure the service is a success. This new service now means we have access to Scotland’s two premier destinations, with the Glasgow flights in addition to our existing Edinburgh service,” Ms Considine said.

“This is a really good start to the year, coming so soon after Shannon’s independence was delivered on January 1st. Together with new routes commencing this year to Chicago, Philadelphia and Faro, we are already on a strong growth path for 2013.”

Shannon Airport Authority chairman Ms Hynes stated: ”we said that the immediate focus of an independent Shannon would be passenger growth. This is a good start and there will be more to come.”

Flybe describes itself as Europe’s largest regional airline and head of aviation development in Shannon Declan Power said the airport would now be “working with the airline to expand its services further, in keeping with our strategy of developing a strong mix of airlines with a range of viable and sustainable services”.

Flights to Glasgow can be booked with local travel agents or through the website flybe.com


By Mike Dwane
Published on Tuesday 5 February 2013 12:00