Ryanair and Shannon Airport are urging the Government to reconsider the limits on regional airport traffic, which they argue is hindering economic growth in Clare.
The summer schedule for Shannon Airport includes 26 destinations and an increased capacity for flights to La Rochelle, coinciding with the European Rugby Champions Cup in April.
CEO Mary Considine pointed out that over 40pc of foreign direct investments in Ireland are located around Shannon, reinforcing the need for better regional connectivity.
Dara Brady of Ryanair shared: “Ultimately we’re on an island in the periphery of Europe. Every industry including aviation is on a pathway to net carbon zero. And because Ryanair is investing in newer aircrafts, those newer aircrafts have less fuel emissions than older aircrafts. We have two new aircrafts based in Shannon and they have 16pc less fuel burnt than older aircrafts. So if you are environmentally conscious what you should be doing is flying with new aircrafts.
Aviation accounts for 2pc of total global emissions, we need to do our bit. The greatest success of the European market has been the free movement of people, for jobs, for connectivity, for family. I think Europe is a far more connected place and that’s a good thing. “We’re all taking steps to do things more sustainably, which is the right thing to do, but I think it’s a lazy narrative to say ‘let’s just cut down on flying’. We need to make flying more sustainable, I think the industry is moving towards that, we are taking very significant steps towards a more sustainable future, and I don’t think the answer is let’s stop flying.”
“Shannon, Knock, Cork, regional airports can be better supported through a revision of that Regional Airports Programme, which penalize airports essentially for growing. We’re capping growth. “There’s plenty that can be done. I think keeping access costs low, and the regional airport development programme supporting the infrastructure aspect of the airport and funding the airport, that allows airports to really develop and that’s what would drive growth and connectivity.
CEO Mary Considine shareed: “I think it would be good from a sustainability perspective if you had more traffic coming directly to Shannon airport. “If you look at tourism stats, 38pc of the tourists coming through Dublin airport are actually travelling down to the west of Ireland to travel the Wild Atlantic Way, so there’s an opportunity there for inbound tourists to actually arrive in an airport that’s closer to where they want to travel. And I think that would take the pressure off our main capital airport, bringing tourists closer where they want to get to, and avoid all those unnecessary bus and car journeys on the way down.”
“We would like the strategic importance of Shannon be called out. “Not only we want to offer more choice and more routes to people living and working here, but we also want to make it easier for all the businesses in the area. “Over 40pc of foreign-direct investments in this country is located here and it’s here historically because of that international connectivity.” Also, Ms Considine argued regional airport growth is being unfairly limited by the Government’s Regional Airports Programme which penalises regional airports for exceeding 1m passenger p.a. “There is an opportunity here to directly support the growth of regional airports. The opportunity to review aviation policy is to create a better distribution of air traffic in the country.”
