Ryanair announcement underpins Shannon's remarkable growth - Mulcahy

SHANNON, Ireland - Oct. 7, 2014 - PRLog -- Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy says Ryanair's commitment to increase its business at Shannon by 18% in 2015 will help to consolidate the "remarkable growth" recorded at the County Clare airport.

The Shannon Senator was reacting to the news that the low cost carrier will increase the number of routes it operates to and from Shannon to 19 by adding Kaunas (Lithuania) and Manchester (UK) as part of its newly launched summer 2015 schedule.

"This announcement is evidence of the remarkable growth that Shannon has experienced in the 20 months since it received independence from the Dublin Airport Authority. The delivery of an additional 125,000 passengers by Ryanair in 2015 is a further tremendous boost to the Airport," stated Senator Mulcahy.

He added: "Ryanair's summer 2015 schedule will deliver 65 weekly return flights and will inevitably help to sustain existing jobs as well as create new employment opportunities not only at the airport, but also indirectly throughout the wider tourism sector in the West of Ireland."

Senator Mulcahy also called on people living and working in the West of Ireland to ensure that new and existing services are maintained into the future.

He continued: “We, as a region, cannot afford to be complacent about the services on offer at Shannon as seen with the loss of other services down through the years. By supporting existing services, the people of this region can play an important role in protecting Shannon Airport’s future. To consolidate the future of these new services, I would ask the people of this Region to support Shannon Airport when considering a trip abroad while tourism and hospitality operators can also play their part by promoting the airport as the key gateway to Ireland.”