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UPDATE: Celebrations as transatlantic flights return to Shannon Airport

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Shannon Airport Transatlantic flights – Fourteen flights to JFK New York and Boston will depart from the midwest airport each week, beginning March 2022. 

UPDATE: Celebrations as transatlantic flights return to Shannon Airport 

United Airlines has confirmed the return of its Shannon to New York/Newark service, topping off a fantastic week for Shannon Airport. The route will be reintroduced from March 27, 2022.

The Shannon to New York/Newark route was first launched in 1999 and has brought over 2.1 million passengers to the midwest region to date. The service is hugely beneficial to the local economy and tourism industry.


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Limerick TD and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Transport and Communications Committee, Kieran O’Donnell, welcomed the news.

“I very much welcome the announcement this afternoon that United Airlines will resume its daily nonstop Shannon to New York/Newark Service next year. This is further good news for Shannon Airport, on a day that saw the positive announcement that Aer Lingus are recommencing transatlantic flights to Boston and New York/JFK, as well as expanding the Shannon to Heathrow service to 3 flights daily,” said Mr O’Donnell.

“Regaining our key transatlantic route connectivity at Shannon Airport with Aer Lingus and United Airlines is vital for our business links and the recovery of the aviation and tourism sectors here in Limerick and the midwest.”

Celebrations as transatlantic flights return to Shannon Airport 

By I Love Limerick correspondent Rachel Petticrew

shannon Airport Transatlantic flights "Shannon to JFK and Boston are key services, so to see Aer Lingus recommence these routes next year is hugely positive," said Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine.

“Shannon to JFK and Boston are key services, so to see Aer Lingus recommence these routes next year is hugely positive,” said Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine.

Aer Lingus has confirmed the highly-anticipated return of transatlantic services from Shannon Airport.

Fourteen flights to JFK New York and Boston will depart from the midwest airport each week, beginning March 2022. 

The Shannon to Heathrow service will also continue, with a likely increase in weekly flights.

There has been great demand for the return of these routes, which are vital to the region’s business, tourism and leisure industries. 

CEO of Shannon Airport’s parent company Shannon Group, Mary Considine, welcomed the news.

“Today is a great day for the West of Ireland’s economy. It is great to get these strategic routes back, which support thousands of jobs across the tourism and industry sectors. Shannon to JFK and Boston are key services, so to see Aer Lingus recommence these routes next year is hugely positive,” said Ms Considine.

“We are delighted to have the Heathrow service back here already, its continuation is very important to Shannon Airport and the wider region. This is an essential strategic route that provides vital hub connectivity for our entire region.”

Shannon and Clare TD, Timmy Dooley, has been lobbying for the return of transatlantic services since they were pulled at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The return of transatlantic flights is really welcome news for tourism operators in the region, and is a welcome development to people who work in the airport and use the airport for business and leisure activity,” Mr Dooley told I Love Limerick. 

“From looking at the Aer Lingus booking engine, they are advertising two flights a day from Shannon to Heathrow, including an early morning flight, from March 2022. It’s very good for the region to have an early morning and late evening flight from Shannon. This is something we’ve really been looking for.”

The news comes days after Ryanair announced four new routes from Shannon Airport, beginning next week. 

Weekly services to Fuerteventura will begin on October 31, with a twice-weekly service to Birmingham taking off from November 1. 

Jetsetters can fly to Budapest on Wednesdays and Saturdays from November 3, while a new service to Turin, Italy will commence weekly from December.

Shannon Airport Transatlantic flights Pictured above is Karen Brosnahan, Manager of Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau

Pictured above is Karen Brosnahan, Manager of Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau.

Karen Brosnahan, Manager of Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau said, “The Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau are delighted to see the results of the hard work the team at Shannon Airport have put into restoring connectivity to the Midwest. 

“As the bureau reconnects with event planners to attract international business tourism with Failte Ireland, we are all too aware of how important connectivity is in the deciding factor when choosing a destination.”

The surge in flight activity from Shannon Airport may well be a result of the significant €126 million investment in the Irish aviation industry as part of Budget 2022. Shannon Airport will be a key beneficiary of funding and has been included in the €36 million Regional Airports Programme. 

“Clearly, the support of the government in the recent budget for regional airports with root support funding is a contributing factor to the viability of flight services,” commented TD Timmy Dooley. 

Mayor of Limerick City and County, Daniel Butler, encourages commuters and holidaymakers to utilise Shannon Airport, saying, “It is vitally important that people and businesses support these new routes and choose to fly from Shannon. It is only through ongoing usage that Shannon can grow its services and routes.”

For more information on Shannon Airport routes, go HERE 

For more stories about Shannon Airport, go HERE

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