Increased connectivity to US east coast a great boost for Shannon – Carey

Fine Gael Clare TD, Joe Carey, has commended the board of management at Shannon Airport following the announcement that Aer Lingus is to provide a year round service from the airport to New York and Boston.

“This very positive announcement from Aer Lingus is another sign of what the newly independent Shannon Airport is capable of delivering. The expansion of the New York and Boston routes is a major coup for the Airport, and should help to bring significant numbers of extra tourists into the region.

“It is timely that Aer Lingus should make this announcement just days after the latest figures from the CSO show that the number of visitors coming to Ireland from the US is up by more than 12%. The Gathering is clearly having a very positive impact on tourism numbers, and I hope with these expanded services to Shannon we will be able to bring thousands of extra American tourists into Clare and beyond.

“After being unleashed from the constraints of the Dublin Airport Authority, Shannon Airport has gotten off to a great start as an independent authority. Overall, transatlantic traffic coming into Shannon is up by a quarter this year, thanks to new routes being added by Aer Lingus, Delta and United Airlines. American visitors are more likely to stay here longer and spend more while they are here, so this is a very positive trend not just for the airport, but for tourism enterprises across the entire region.

“Plans are also progressing well for the development of an international aviation centre of excellence at Shannon. This week, the Government announced that Enterprise Ireland is launching a new €375,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund for the aviation industry, which should directly help to move the project forward at Shannon.

“I am confident that Shannon Airport will continue to go from strength to strength as the year progresses. It is vital, in my view, that the new routes to and from the airport are adequately advertised and promoted, so they can attract maximum attention from prospective customers.”

ENDS