Shannon Airport is confident it will reach the 2 million passenger mark by the end of 2024 for the first time since 2009.
The Shannon Airport Group's annual report, published today, shows the airport saw a total of 1.959 million passengers in 2023, a 29% increase on the previous year, and the highest level of traffic since 2009.
Continental European traffic at the airport rose by 41% to 748,000, while UK traffic increased by 31% to 838,000 and transatlantic passenger numbers grew by 24% to 296,000.
Mary Considine, the chief executive of The Shannon Airport Group, said today that growth across all key air services in 2023 surpassed expectations.
Flights from Shannon were boosted last year with new Ryanair services to destinations including Naples, Porto, Béziers and Liverpool, as well as additional capacity on popular destinations such as Malaga, Faro and Alicante, particularly during peak holiday times and school holidays.
Another highlight was the launch of the new Aer Lingus service to the hub airport of Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Transatlantic services at Shannon also increased with the launch of a new daily Chicago service by United Airlines.
Shannon also offers services to New York/JFK, Boston, and New York/Newark with its airline partners and May will see the resumption of the Delta New York/JFK service.
Today's report shows that The Shannon Airport Group's group turnover from continuing operations increased by 12% on the 2022 figure to €67.9m, while EBITDA increased to just over €21m, a 27% increase on 2022.
The group's profit for the year from continuing operations came to €28.4m - before tax and exceptional items.
Shannon Airport secured operational and capital funding last year when it was temporarily included in the Regional Airports Programme and this enabled the completion of vital safety and security projects at the airport during the year.
"We made considerable progress last year and with continued Government support we can achieve even more for our region and for the country as a whole. Ultimately, Shannon Airport’s permanent inclusion in the Regional Airports Programme will deliver economic benefits for Ireland, aligning as it does with the Government’s own ambitions for ensuring balanced regional development," Mary Considine said.
She also said that the economic benefits from the group's activities extend far beyond passenger numbers.
An independent report undertaken by Oxford Economics last year highlights the group's crucial role in balanced regional development and significant contribution to Ireland's GDP, job creation, and tax revenues.
The report showed that The Shannon Airport Group delivers a major contribution of €3.96 billion to Ireland’s GDP, supports over 20,300 jobs across the Irish workforce, and contributes €643m in tax revenues.
The group last year continued the roll out of its ambitious capital investment programme with the delivery of a new 60,000 square feet multi-purpose industrial unit, and a 40,000 square feet R&D technology unit at its Shannon Campus.
It also completed a number of infrastructural projects at the airport, among these, rehabilitation work on an airport taxiway.
"We are passionate about developing our Shannon Campus as a hub for technology and aerospace industries, contributing to regional job creation and economic opportunities, and much work was done during the year at Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI) on the Shannon Campus to further this ambition," Ms Considine said.
Looking ahead, Ms Considine said the group remains optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead, as the airport and commercial property activities continue to create an environment that boosts economic growth and helps the region to grow.
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to prioritising customer satisfaction, a principle that guides both our airport operations and our commercial property endeavours, and to ensuring that Shannon Airport continues to be Ireland’s airport of choice for connectivity and business," she added.
She noted that first quarter airport passenger traffic results show a 12% increase on 2023 figures.
