Airport Delays 07.12.2013

Technical problems at the air traffic control centre is causing delays at airports across the UK.
A Stansted Airport spokesman said all of its departing flights were subject to delays of between 30 minutes and two hours, while Gatwick Airport said 20pc of its departures had been delayed, with passengers warned they could wait for "a couple of hours".The British National Air Traffic Services (Nats) said the issue stemmed from it control centre in Swanwick, Hampshire.
A spokesman said: "Due to a technical problem at Swanwick, we are currently experiencing some difficulty switching from night-time to daytime operation. This may result in some delays, for which we apologise.
 
A spokeswoman for Dublin Airport said: "I understand that there are some flight delays as a result of air traffic control issues in the UK."
Aer Lingus has said that one in 10 flights into and out of the country are delayed.
Among delays the airline listed by Ryanair were its flight from London Luton to Dublin, London Stansted to Dublin, Dublin to Birmingham, Dublin to Newcastle and Cork to London Stantstead.
The Stansted spokesman said: "There are restrictions on the air space and the flow of aircraft. Our first departures go at 6am, so that's when the problems started."

Shannon Airport - Sharon Shannon

Sharon Shannon to play live at Shannon Airport.
All roads lead to Shannon on Friday night, December 13th as Ireland’s ‘first lady’ of traditional music Sharon Shannon has been confirmed as the headline act for the Airport’s annual ‘thank-you’ event to the region for its support during the year.
The event, which is free to the public, will see the hugely popular and gifted instrumentalist, who has internationalised accordion playing like no other over the past 20 years, deliver her lively set to 800 plus guests.Shannon will be accompanied by Alan O’Connor - a multi-instrumentalist who plays percussion, guitar, piano and also sings - and the duo will perform all her hits, including Galway Girl, Blackbird, Coridinio as well as new material and a selection from her back catalogue. 
Twelve months ago Shannon’s brother Garry took to the same stage with the Kilfenora Ceili band at the 2012 airport celebration, which also thrilled a packed audience.Sharon, winner of the Lifetime Achievement award at the Meteor Music Awards, herself recently launched her 21st anniversary collection, The Definitive Sharon Shannon, and has just completed hugely successful US and UK tours.Looking ahead to the concert, Shannon said: “I’ve had a busy year, not least over recent months with the launch of the album and tour, but I am so looking forward to getting home for this show.  I know from talking to my brother Garry about last year’s event that it is really a special night at the airport.“We all have a great affinity with Shannon and I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve flown from there. 

Shannon Airport - Ryanair Growth Plans

Shannon Airport Growth Plans get Major Boost as Ryanair commits to 300,000 additional passengers per year Shannon Airport has described today’s announcement by Ryanair that it is to deliver over 300,000 new passengers annually with the addition of 8 new services as hugely significant in the growth plans of the independent airport.
 The Ryanair commitment, which will see the airline operate services to 18 locations from Shannon at the end of April 2014, confirms Shannon as a key catalyst of growth for the region, providing a major boost for both tourism and business interests.

The new services that Ryanair will commence from next year are Berlin, Paris, Fuerteventura, Warsaw, Faro, Munich, Nice and Krakow, with an increase in frequency between Stansted and Shannon.

The announcement comes on top of an already successful initial ten months for the airport as an independent entity.  In that period Shannon has managed to grow month-over-month passengers for the first time in five years with significant increases across the summer season.
Said Ryanair Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Operating Officer Michael Cawley:  “Ryanair is pleased to announce 8 new routes and increased frequency on the Stansted route from Shannon in April 2014, which will deliver 300,000 additional passengers p.a. and support 300 new on-site jobs at Shannon. This growth is in direct response to the Government’s welcome decision to scrap the €3 air travel tax from April 2014.

Shannon Airport - Extra Flights and routes for 2014

Shannon Airport welcomed another significant addition to its 2014 schedule after Aer Lingus announced a new Malaga service to its summer destinations. 

The new service will see the airline fly from Shannon to the Costa del Sol’s busiest airport twice weekly, providing further connectivity for the West of Ireland to one of the most popular destinations for Irish holiday makers.

In addition to the twice weekly Malaga flights, Aer Lingus also announced today that it is to return in April with its three-times weekly Faro service, which proved a major success in its first year this year after the airline added it to its 2013 Shannon summer schedule.   The strengthening of its European sun services next year follows the commencement of the airline’s weekly Lanzarote winter sun service, which will operate to the end of March.  The airline’s 2014 schedule will also see Aer Lingus almost double its frequencies on transatlantic routes from Shannon to New York and Boston, which will both go daily next year, strengthening the airport’s excellent US connectivity.  Transatlantic passengers will also benefit with access up to 40 destinations in North America with partner airline, Jetblue.

Shannon Airport Ryanair New Routes

Mixed news for Shannon Airport as Ryanair announce new routes but Aer Lingus reveal job losses
Ryanair plans to expand at the airport but Aer Lingus is cutting back
There has been mixed news for aviation jobs at Shannon Airport today with Ryanair and Aer Lingus making separate announcements.

Ryanair is to boost its services at Shannon Airport with 300,000 new seats every year on eight new routes to the UK and continental Europe.

However, there was also bad news with Aer Lingus announcing that they are axing 87 cabin crew obs at Shannon Airport.

The airline has refused to confirm if there will be compulsory redundancies while it is understood redeployment options to Dublin or Cork, or voluntary severance, will be offered.

The Ryanair deal alone represents passenger growth of almost 15% at Shannon Airport next year.

It marks the end of five years of falling passenger numbers.

The new services that will commence are Berlin, Paris, Fuerteventura, Warsaw, Faro, Munich, Nice and Krakow, with an increase in frequency between Stansted and Shannon.

Transport Minister Leo Varadker: “This announcement of eight new routes by Ryanair is further evidence of the success of the Government's decision to break up the State airport monopoly, and allow Shannon Airport to compete on its own and cut its own deals.”.

Ryanair's deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley, said the decision was taken because the Government decided to scrap the €3 air travel tax from April next year.

He said: "The scrapping of the air travel tax will help restore Ireland’s competitiveness and attractiveness to overseas visitors from the UK and Continental Europe in particular.

"Having met with all five of the main Irish airports, we hope to announce further new route and traffic growth plans over the coming weeks.”

The Mayor of Clare, Joe Arkins, welcomed the announcement and said it was a major boost for the airport and the region.

He said: "Today marks 68 years to the day since the first scheduled commercial flight, an American Overseas Airlines DC-4, landed at Shannon Airport.

"Shannon has seen some periods of growth and some bad days in the period since but I firmly believe that the airport is now on a much firmer footing than it has been in the past."

However, the announcement from Aer Lingus has been met with anger.

Trade union IMPACT condemned the move and said it was an act of "wanton destruction" on the worker's pay.

It vowed to fight the decision which it said is completely unnecessary. Cabin crew are to begin balloting for industrial action with the ballot due to be finished by October 30.

The union said its members will fight the decision and said the action of Aer Lingus management was entirely unnecessary.

It said cabin crew are balloting for industrial action with the ballot due to be completed on 30 October.

Aer Lingus has said it is not commercially viable for them to keep a short haul crew in Shannon Airport, but stressed there would be no reduction in its schedule or fleet.

A 30-day consultation period with the unions is now set to begin.

Worlds largest aircraft stops over in Shannon

A PLANE purpose built to transport a shuttle for the Soviet space programme landed in Shannon Airport this week, drawing gasps from the large numbers of plane-spotters awaiting its arrival.

The Antonov AN-225 Mriya, now transformed into the world’s largest single carrier of air cargo, landed in Shannon at lunchtime on Tuesday, bound for the Ukraine.

The ‘Dream’, which is the world’s largest aircraft and has set in excess of 250 aviation records, landed in the airport as part of a standard crew rest period, en route from Bangor Airport in Maine, USA.

The aircraft was returning to Shannon after previously landing at the airport in 2006. As Shannon has a runway of 3200 metres long, it can accommodate the monster plane and is the only airport in Ireland that can do so.

Shannon Airport Head of Operations Niall Maloney said that the Antonov 225 attracted large numbers of people, all keen for a glimpse at a plane coming in at the weight of 220 average sized cars.

“It is an unbelievable aircraft that almost defies the law of physics and when you see it coming in it is a fantastic sight,” he marvelled.

“We had it here twice before but the interest in this flying machine never diminishes.

“There was a lot of talk across the internet and social media about its arrival over the last 24 hours so we weren’t surprised to see people here waiting but were surprised to see so many. It’s an aviation enthusiasts’ dream,” he added.

The plane, which once carried wind turbine blades measured at 42m long from China to Denmark, departed this Wednesday night.

Alan Owens Limerick Leader

Munster fans seek French connection for semi-final trip

THE celebrations were only getting under way after Munster’s famous victory in London yesterday when Ryanair confirmed the first of what may prove several special services from Shannon to Montpellier for the semi-final clash with Clermont Auvergne on Saturday, April 27.

At €349 the fare wasn’t cheap, but Munster have a habit of providing extraordinary value for money for the travelling supporters and although they will be underdogs again in the semi-final, only a fool wouldn’t give them a fighting chance after yesterday’s heroics.

“It’s been one of those magical weekends thanks to Munster and we have another bumper one at Shannon to look forward to in three weeks as fans head out for the semi-final in Montpelier,” said a Shannon Airport spokesman.

“Within minutes of the match ending today we had people ringing to ask when is the Munster team flying back into Shannon tonight. Fans just wanted to come out and say thank-you to the team.”

The plane carrying the team was due in at 9.20pm last night and it was like old times as delighted supporters made their way to the airport to welcome back their heroes.

Ryanair hopeful for new Shannon Airport deal

THE ability of newly independent Shannon Airport to strike its own deals was crucial in Ryanair reinstating seasonal services to popular Alicante, the airline’s deputy chief executive Michael Cawley has said.

Last operated in 2010, Alicante is the first new route announced for Shannon by Ryanair since the airport officially separated from the DAA in January.

Mr Cawley declined to say what deal on charges it had been given but indicated it was more favourable than what had been on offer when Shannon was a DAA operation.

Around 30,000 passengers would use the Shannon-Alicante route between June and September, Mr Cawley said, bringing the total number of Ryanair passengers up to 485,000 passengers on 10 routes.

This is a far cry from almost two million passengers in 2008 and Ryanair’s numbers at Shannon have steadily declined since the introduction of the airport departure tax and increases in passenger charges.

But Mr Cawley said more services for Shannon are in the offing if the airline can strike an agreeable bargain on charges.

Ryanair deal for Shannon Airport

SHANNON Airport has cut its first deal with Ryanair for new routes since the Government established the independent airport.
Following several months of discussions with the airline, a new summer return route with Alicante will begin at the airport this June.
Chair of Shannon Airport, Rose Hynes said the new relationship with Ryanair was very welcome.

"We said we will grow passenger numbers and that is what we are doing. Today is evidence of that," Ms Hynes said.

While the details of the deal are confidential, it is understood that the airport charges offered to Ryanair at Shannon on the route are more attractive than what was offered when the airport was managed by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

This is the fifth new route to be established by the independent entity following new services to Faro and Glasgow in Europe as well as Chicago and Philadelphia in the US.

Ryanair's deputy chief executive Michael Cawley said the airline's business growth across Europe hasn't been mirrored in Ireland in recent years.

"We hope that trend can be reversed essentially through the lowering of (airport) charges to competitive levels," he said.

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

Shannon Airport plan for 850 jobs

Commitments for the creation of 850 new jobs have been secured from two Shannon-based companies, as part of plans for an International Aviation Services Centre that will see the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority.
The Government has decided to grant Shannon Airport full independence and merge the airport with a restructured Shannon Development to form a new, publicly-owned, commercial entity in 2013.
An independent Shannon Airport combined with the landbank of Shannon Development could "conservatively" generate between 3,000 and 3,500 new direct jobs over the next five years, according to a Government-appointed task force.
This is separate of construction jobs and would revolve around growing air traffic at the airport and establishing an international aviation services centre.
This and other recommendations underpinned the Cabinet’s decision on Monday to approve the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) by the end of this year.
The reorganisation of Shannon Development is expected to happen by July 2013. This will involve the landbank being merged with the airport into a new entity.
The Aviation Business Development Task Force, headed by Bord Gáis chairman Rose Hynes, submitted its report to Government recently. It said it had obtained "specific commitments" from two existing companies in Shannon to expand their employment with the addition of almost 1,000 jobs. It said these jobs were contingent on Shannon's separation from the DAA.
The task force concluded that an independent airport combined with the landbank from Shannon Development could be "successful and sustainable" and "contribute significantly" to the economic development of the midwest.
Shannon Airport currently employs 230 staff directly, while an additional 1,600 work in neighbouring aviation-related businesses.
The task force predicted that the airport could attract up to 2.5 million passengers annually within three to five years. That compares with the 1.5 million expected in 2012.
It said the airport had the potential to attract new airline services by offering a competitive and flexible tariff structure.

Galway-Tuam motorway extension a major boost for Shannon Airport passengers

The Director of Shannon Airport, Mary Considine has described the green-light for the Gort-Tuam motorway under the Government stimulus programme as a significant boost for passengers across the wider West of Ireland.
“The announcement by Government that the Gort to Tuam motorway will proceed under its major stimulus programme is very positive news for passengers and our airport alike.

“The completion of the motorway to Galway and further to Tuam will significantly enhance travel times to and from Shannon Airport for our existing catchment and also open up a wider market for our services.

“Shannon, which this summer has services to 33 destinations, has for over 65 years been the premier gateway for passengers into and from for the West of Ireland. Today we remain the only airport on the entire western seaboard with transatlantic services and connectivity into one of Europe’s four major hubs, Heathrow so this improvement in the road network will benefit many people accessing our services.

“Improving accessibility to our airport with this motorway extension is a really significant development. We very much welcome the announcement and the exposure of our services to a wider market that it will bring.”

Compulsory redundancies at Shannon Development ruled out despite merger

By David Hurley Limerick Leader
Published on Wednesday 1 August 2012 13:00

THE chief executive of Shannon Development says there will be no compulsory redundancies within the company as it prepares to merge with Shannon Airport.

Dr Vincent Cunnane says it has been a difficult few months for staff at the state-owned agency since the Government announced its decision in June.
A steering group has been appointed to oversee the merger of Shannon Development and the Shannon Airport Authority into a new publicly-owned entity with a commercial mandate.
As part of this, Shannon Development’s existing functions in relation to indigenous enterprise, foreign direct investment and tourism are to transfer to national agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
“We welcome the high-level decision of Government to ensure that the future viability of the airport and the region is secured through the merger of Shannon Development and Shannon Airport,” said Dr Cunnane who added it has been a difficult time for Shannon Development staff.
“There is a lot of uncertainty, understandably, at the moment the task forces are meeting on a very regular basis. My job is to make sure that the staff of Shannon Development have opportunities going into the future and that company, in the meantime does its job.”
Speaking about interim arrangements Dr Cunnane stressed that it is business as usual for the company: “We are in touch with our clients to assure them that our service levels will be unaffected during the interim period and that staff will continue to deliver the high level of service that clients have come to expect.”