View source for Shannon Airport

{{short description|International airport in County Clare, Ireland}}
{{for|the general aviation airport serving Fredericksburg, Virginia|Shannon Airport (Virginia)}}
{{use Hiberno-English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox airport
| nativename          = {{lang|ga|Aerfort na Sionainne}}
| nativename-a        =  
| nativename-r        = 
| location            = [[Shannon, County Clare]]
| focus_city          = {{plainlist|
* [[Ryanair]]
}}
| hub                 = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|52|42|07|N|008|55|29|W|region:IE-CE|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_label       = SNN
| metric-rwy          = Y
| name                = Shannon Airport
| image               = Shannon Airport logo.svg
| image-width         = 200
| image2              = Shannon Airport 2020-07-12 01.jpg
| image2-width        = 250
| IATA                = SNN
| ICAO                = EINN
| WMO                 = 03962
| type                = Public
| owner               = [[Government of Ireland]]
| operator            = Shannon Airport Authority plc
| city-served         = [[Mid-West Region, Ireland|Mid-West Region]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| elevation-f         = 46
| pushpin_map         = Ireland
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Ireland
| website             = {{Official URL}}
| r1-number           = 06/24
| r1-length-m         = 3199
| r1-surface          = Asphalt
| stat-year           = 2024
| stat1-header        = Passengers
| stat1-data          = 2,100,000
| stat2-header        = Passenger change ‘23-24‘
| stat2-data          = {{increase}}7%
| stat3-header        = Aircraft movements
| stat3-data          = 18,086
| stat4-header        = Movements change '21-‘22
| stat4-data          = {{increase}}98%
| footnotes           = {{Plainlist|
* Source: Irish [[Aeronautical Information Service|AIS]]<ref name="AIP">{{AIP IE|EINN|9dd422bd-0290-4153-ad4d-49054e0150ee|shannon|name=SHANNON/International}}</ref>
* Passengers<ref name="anna">{{cite web |url=http://www.anna.aero/european-airport-traffic-trends |title=European Airport Traffic Trends |date=24 October 2008 |publisher=Anna.aero |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209041654/http://www.anna.aero/european-airport-traffic-trends/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Aircraft movements<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iaa.ie/who-we-are/flight-statistics/monthly-review/ |title=Monthly Review |publisher=[[Irish Aviation Authority]] |date=December 2016 |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225202037/https://www.iaa.ie/error-pages/404?aspxerrorpath=%2Fwho-we-are%2Fflight-statistics%2Fmonthly-review%2F |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
}}
[[File:Shannon Airport in relation to Limerick City.png|thumb|Shannon Airport in relation to [[Ennis]] and [[Limerick]]]]

'''Shannon Airport''' ({{langx|ga|Aerfort na Sionainne}})<ref>{{cite web |date=21 July 2004 |title=State Airports Act 2004 |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/32/enacted/en/print#sec6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911132027/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/32/enacted/en/print#sec6 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |access-date=8 September 2016 |website=Irish Statute Book}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 2015 |title=O'Connell abú ag Aerfort na Sionna |language=Irish |publisher=[[RTÉ]] |url=http://www.rte.ie/news/nuacht/2015/0717/715550-oconnell-abu-ag-aerfort-na-sionna/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917021146/http://www.rte.ie/news/nuacht/2015/0717/715550-oconnell-abu-ag-aerfort-na-sionna/ |archive-date=17 September 2016}}</ref> {{Airport codes|SNN|EINN}} is an [[international airport]] located in [[County Clare]] in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. It is adjacent to the [[Shannon Estuary]] and lies halfway between [[Ennis]] and [[Limerick]]. With almost 2 million passengers in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-18 |title=Passenger Numbers Soared At Shannon Airport Last Year |url=https://www.clare.fm/news/passenger-numbers-soared-shannon-airport-last-year/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |publisher=[[Clare FM]] |language=en-IE }}</ref> the airport is the third busiest airport in the [[Republic of Ireland]], and the fifth busiest on [[Ireland|the island of Ireland]]. Shannon has had a long association with [[transatlantic flight]], owing to its position on the west coast of Ireland and being one of the most westerly international airports in Europe. One half of [[Shanwick Oceanic Control]], which [[air traffic control|controls]] all air traffic on the north eastern quadrant of the North [[Atlantic Ocean]] is located close to the airport in nearby Ballygirreen.

The airport was built in the late 1930s, with the first commercial flight taking place in 1939. Shannon was the landing point for the first [[transatlantic flight|transatlantic proving flight]] in 1945 and became the world's first [[duty-free shop|duty-free]] airport in 1947. By the 1960s, it was a busy refuelling stop for many transatlantic carriers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.shannonproperties.ie/shannon-region/the-history-of-shannon-airport |title=History of Shannon Airport |publisher=Shannon Commercial Properties |date=7 November 2014 |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708123828/https://www.shannonproperties.ie/shannon-region/the-history-of-shannon-airport/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Europe's first [[United States border preclearance]] facility opened in 1986. At {{convert|3.2|km|mi|0}}, Shannon has the longest runway in Ireland, which allowed it to be a [[Space_Shuttle abort modes#Emergency landing sites|designated alternative landing site]] for the [[Space Shuttle]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://space.balettie.com/LandingSiteInfo/index.html |title=Worldwide Shuttle Landing Site information |access-date=18 January 2014 |archive-date=25 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625101825/http://space.balettie.com/LandingSiteInfo/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==
=== Establishment ===
In the late 1930s, [[transatlantic flight|transatlantic air traffic]] was dominated by [[flying boat]]s, and a flying boat terminal was located at [[Foynes]] on the south side of the [[Shannon Estuary]]. However, it was realised that changing technology would require a permanent [[runway]] and airport.
 
In 1936, the [[Government of Ireland]] confirmed that it would develop a {{convert|3.1|km2|sqmi|adj=mid}} site at Rineanna for the country's first transatlantic airport. The land on which the airport was to be built was boggy and on 8 October 1936 work began to drain it. In July 1939, a [[SABENA]] [[Savoia-Marchetti S.73]] from [[Brussels]] via [[Croydon Airport]] was the first commercial flight to use the Rineanna airfield.<ref name="GalAd80">{{cite news |date=11 July 2019 |url-status=live |first=Linley |url=https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/108866/shannon-airport-celebrates-milestone-as-major-transport-and-economic-hub |work=[[Galway Advertiser]] |last=MacKenzie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711065654/https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/108866/shannon-airport-celebrates-milestone-as-major-transport-and-economic-hub |title=Shannon Airport celebrates milestone as major transport and economic hub |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-date=11 July 2019}}</ref>

By 1942, a serviceable airport had been established and was named Shannon Airport. [[British Overseas Airways Corporation|BOAC]] began scheduled service to [[Bristol Airport|Bristol]] on 21 February 1942 to provide a land plane connection between England and the flying boat terminal at Foynes. [[Aer Lingus]] began scheduled service to [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]] in August 1942.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Shannon's early days of flying boats and Dakotas|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/shannon-s-early-days-of-flying-boats-and-dakotas-1.1051483|access-date=2021-04-16|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420015805/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/shannon-s-early-days-of-flying-boats-and-dakotas-1.1051483|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Transatlantic service ===

By the end of [[World War II]] in 1945, the existing runways at Shannon were extended to allow [[transatlantic flight]]s to take off. The first Air Services Agreement between Ireland and the United States in 1945 permitted U.S. airlines to serve only Shannon, and permitted Irish airlines to serve only Boston, Chicago and New York.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ireland and the U.S.: The Best of Friends, Except When They Weren't |url=https://adst.org/2017/04/ireland-u-s-best-friends-except-werent/ |website=Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training |access-date=23 November 2024}}</ref>

On 16 September 1945, the first transatlantic proving flight, a [[Pan American World Airways|Pan Am]] [[Douglas DC-4|DC-4]], landed at Shannon from [[Gander International Airport|Gander]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/airport.htm|title=Shannon Airport|publisher=Clare County Library|access-date=10 July 2018|archive-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720233111/http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/airport.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 October 1945, the first scheduled transatlantic commercial flight using a land plane, an [[American Overseas Airlines]] DC-4, ''Flagship New England'', stopped at the airport on the [[New York City]]–[[Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gander]]–Shannon–[[London]] route.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleischman|first=John|title=The Dawn of Transatlantic Flight|url=https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/forgotten-first-flight-180975833/|access-date=2021-04-16|website=Air & Space Magazine|language=en|archive-date=14 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414052547/https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/forgotten-first-flight-180975833/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Trans World Airlines]] began service between New York and Paris via Gander and Shannon on 5 February 1946,<ref>{{cite web|title=TWA History|url=http://twamuseum.com/htdocs/twahistory2.htm|access-date=2021-04-16|website=twamuseum.com|archive-date=15 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215120826/http://twamuseum.com/htdocs/twahistory2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and began a Shannon-Dublin tag flight in 1971 after the [[Civil Aeronautics Authority|US Civil Aeronautics Board]] threatened to ban Aer Lingus from landing in New York. [[Aer Lingus|Aerlinte Eireann]] began service from Dublin to New York via Shannon on 28 April 1958.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|title=Aer Lingus Milestones|url=https://mediacentre.aerlingus.com/factsheet/aer-lingus-milestones|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-16|website=mediacentre.aerlingus.com|language=en|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416161354/https://mediacentre.aerlingus.com/factsheet/aer-lingus-milestones}}</ref>

In 1947, the "Customs Free Airport Act" established Shannon as the world's first [[duty-free shop|duty-free]] airport, a move promoted by [[Brendan O'Regan]].<ref name="Luxury">{{cite book|author=Chevalier, Michel|title=Luxury Brand Management|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2012|isbn=978-1-118-17176-9|location=Singapore}}</ref> Shannon became a model for other duty-free facilities worldwide.<ref name="Luxury" />

In 1969, it was announced that a new government agency, [[Dublin Airport Authority|Aer Rianta]] (now the Dublin Airport Authority), would be given responsibility for Shannon Airport. Passenger numbers at the airport reached 460,000 that year. With the increase in passengers and the introduction of the [[Boeing 747]], it was decided that a new enlarged [[airport terminal|terminal]] was needed. The first commercial operation of a 747 took place in April 1971, while the new terminal officially opened in May that year.

=== Aeroflot service ===
[[Aeroflot]] began service to Shannon in September 1975 as a stop between the Soviet Union and other Communist bloc countries, such as Cuba and Angola. Aeroflot kept its own fuel storage at Shannon and allowed the airport to sell the Soviet fuel to other airlines.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aeroflot | date=18 March 2012 |url=http://overtakenbyevents.eu/?tag=aeroflot|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416161351/http://overtakenbyevents.eu/?tag=aeroflot|url-status=live}}</ref>

The United States demanded that Ireland suspend Aeroflot's Shannon operations following the shooting down of [[Korean Air Lines Flight 007]] in 1983, and Ireland temporarily banned Aeroflot later that year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Carty|first=Ed|date=2013-12-30|title=Aeroflot banned from Shannon as world on verge of nuclear war|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20253742.html|access-date=2021-04-16|website=Irish Examiner|language=en|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416161351/https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20253742.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Nonetheless, the Aeroflot operation returned and developed into a hub by the mid-1990s, with flights to New York, Chicago, Washington, Miami, and Havana, largely using [[Ilyushin Il-62]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|last=|title=Shannon shakeup|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/shannon-shakeup/7444.article|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-16|website=Flight Global|language=en|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416161349/https://www.flightglobal.com/shannon-shakeup/7444.article}}</ref>

The cooperation between Aeroflot and Aer Rianta at Shannon also led to a joint venture between the two companies to open duty-free shops at [[Sheremetyevo International Airport|Sheremetyevo Airport]] in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-09-14|title=Michael Guerin, Boris Krivchenko and "Aeroflot" in Shannon Airport - a relationship built on trust|url=https://www.russianireland.com/en/michael-guerin/|access-date=2021-04-16|website=russianireland.com|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416162854/https://www.russianireland.com/en/michael-guerin/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 30 September 1994, Shannon was the site of the "[[Boris Yeltsin circling over Shannon diplomatic incident|circling over Shannon]]" diplomatic incident involving Russian President [[Boris Yeltsin]].<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/12/27/russian-ambassador-exquisitely-embarrassed-by-yeltsins-failure-to-appear-shannon/ Russian ambassador ‘exquisitely embarrassed’ by Yeltsin’s no-show at Shannon Airport]</ref>

=== The "Shannon stopover" ===
In 1990, the U.S.-Irish bilateral agreement was changed to allow Irish airlines to serve Los Angeles and additional U.S. airlines to serve Dublin via Shannon. An amendment in 1993 allowed airlines to provide direct transatlantic services to Dublin, but 50% of transatlantic flights had to either originate or stop over in Shannon.{{cn|date=December 2023}} During the 1990s, the airport began to struggle. However, 1996 saw the beginning of [[Continental Airlines]] flying between Dublin, Shannon and [[Newark, New Jersey]]. Shannon began to rebound in the late 1990s with the success of the [[Economy of the Republic of Ireland|Irish economy]], the improving situation in [[The Troubles|Northern Ireland]] and an influx of American tourists.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

In 2005, an agreement was reached regarding a transitional period. Beginning in November 2006 and ending in April 2008, the agreement gradually eliminated restrictions on cargo services. For passenger service, it reduced the stopover requirement and allowed Irish airlines to serve three additional U.S. destinations.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

In 2007, the [[European Union]] and the U.S. announced that an agreement had been reached on an [[Freedoms of the air|open skies]] aviation policy ([[EU–US Open Skies Agreement]]). The agreement came into effect from 30 March 2008, leading to the abolition of the Shannon Stopover, although this would have happened under the 2005 agreement anyway. In 2007, Shannon carried 3.2 million passengers.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/shannon-board-tight-lipped-on-question-of-independence/26702528.html Shannon board tight-lipped on question of independence]</ref> 

=== 2000s ===
[[Ryanair]] increased services and passenger numbers at the airport until 2008.{{cn|date=October 2025}} However, after a disagreement with the [[DAA (company)|Dublin Airport Authority]] (DAA) in 2008, Ryanair announced that the number of based aircraft would be reduced from four to one and 150 jobs would be lost.<ref>[https://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0205/113601-ryanair/ Ryanair to reduce Shannon flights]</ref>

[[CityJet]] launched a twice-daily route to [[Charles de Gaulle Airport]] in 2008 when [[Aer Lingus]] closed its London [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]] flights.<ref>[https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/cityjet-ups-shannon-to-paris-capacity/26516306.html CityJet ups Shannon to Paris capacity]</ref> CityJet pulled out of Shannon in October 2009.<ref>[https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/arid-30425958.html CityJet to axe Shannon services to Paris]</ref>

=== Independent operation, 2012 to present ===
[[File:Shannon Airport and Free Zone.png|thumbnail|Map of the airport]]
[[File:Shannon Airport - Terminal and control tower - geograph.org.uk - 1637715.jpg|thumb|right|[[Control tower]] at Shannon Airport]]
In December 2012, it was announced that Shannon Airport would separate from the [[Dublin Airport Authority]], which still owns Dublin and Cork airports. On 31 December 2012 at 11:59&nbsp;pm, Shannon Airport became a publicly owned commercial airport and is now operated and run by the Shannon Airport Authority plc. Shannon announced a target in 2012 to grow its passenger numbers to 2.5 million annually within five years. However, Shannon has fallen short of its stated targeted figure with just 1.74 million flying through the airport in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/shannon-group-falls-short-of-targets-set-five-years-ago-1.3394947|title=Shannon Group falls short of targets set five years ago|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=6 April 2019|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109035135/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/shannon-group-falls-short-of-targets-set-five-years-ago-1.3394947|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2013, the new company appointed [[Neil Pakey]] as its first CEO. Traffic figures for June 2013 report an 8% increase on the previous year, the first time a traffic increase has been recorded in three years. On 21 March 2013, [[Ryanair]] announced a new twice-weekly route to [[Alicante]], Spain, to begin on 5 June for the summer months. That brought Shannon's total to 33 seasonal scheduled summer routes. In August 2013, Aer Lingus announced a 1x weekly service to [[Lanzarote]], [[Canary Islands]], Spain, every Saturday during the winter months, using an A320. In October 2013, United Airlines confirmed it will increase capacity by 88% on its Shannon-Chicago route for 2014.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} In late 2013, Aer Lingus announced 2 new routes to [[Málaga]], Spain, (two weekly) and to [[Bristol]], UK, (one daily). Ryanair also announced 8 new routes from Shannon to continental Europe. The new routes began from the start of April 2014, and a second Boeing 737-800 was based at Shannon to accommodate the extra 300,000 passengers a year it would bring in. The destinations announced were [[Berlin Schönefeld Airport|Berlin Schonefeld]], [[Beauvais–Tillé Airport|Beauvais]], [[Memmingen Airport|Memmingen]], [[Warsaw Modlin Airport|Warsaw Modlin]], [[Kraków John Paul II International Airport|Kraków]], [[Nice Côte d'Azur Airport|Nice]], [[Faro Airport|Faro]], and [[Fuerteventura Airport|Fuerteventura]].

On 4 July 2014, the "Bank of Ireland Runway Night Run" featured 1,200 people running along Shannon's runway to raise money for charity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bank of Ireland Runway Night Run|url=http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/about-us/BankOfIrelandRunwayNightRun.aspx|access-date=28 July 2014|publisher=Shannon Airport|date=5 July 2014|archive-date=1 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701053314/http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/about-us/BankOfIrelandRunwayNightRun.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late 2014, Aer Lingus Regional operator [[Stobart Air]] said that they would close their Shannon base in early 2015. They returned in June 2015 operating six flights weekly Birmingham service followed by six flights weekly [[Edinburgh]] service. In late 2015, they announced a new CEO for Shannon, Matthew Thomas. Ryanair announced that it will be ending its Paris and Memmingen routes in late 2016, and it also reduced its [[Manchester]] and [[London Stansted]] routes. Ryanair is aiming for 720,000 passengers in Summer 2017 even though they were close to 800,000 in Summer 2016. In October 2016, SAS announced a new route to Stockholm from 1 August 2017 to 7 October 2017. Shortly after that, [[Lufthansa]] announced a weekly service to Frankfurt, running from April to October in 2017. In September 2017, Ryanair announced a new Route to Reus. It will run through summer 2018 operating 2x weekly (Tuesdays and Saturdays), replacing the route to Berlin. The same day, Air Canada announced a new 4x weekly service to Toronto with the [[Boeing 737 MAX]]. In February 2018, Ryanair announced it would resume flights to Bristol and Liverpool from May 2018. In late 2018, Ryanair announced a new twice weekly service to Ibiza, and the resumption of flights to East Midlands, both beginning in April 2019. The East Midlands, Bristol and Ibiza flights are all being ceased at the end of the 2019 summer season due to fears of Brexit and the 737 MAX groundings.{{citation needed |date=October 2019}} Due to the 737 MAX groundings, Air Canada and Norwegian Airlines suspended their routes to Shannon. This reduced the number of passenger by 120,000.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/shannon-region-may-lose-58m-due-to-grounding-of-boeing-737-max-1.3957368 |title=Shannon region may lose €58m due to grounding of Boeing 737 Max |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=14 November 2021 |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506035952/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/shannon-region-may-lose-58m-due-to-grounding-of-boeing-737-max-1.3957368 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 October 2019, Lauda announced that they will launch a twice weekly flight to Shannon from their base in Vienna, operating every Wednesday and Saturday.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hospitalityireland.com/general-industry/lauda-announces-new-route-shannon-vienna-81741 |title=Lauda Announces New Route Between Shannon And Vienna |date=24 October 2019 |access-date=14 November 2021 |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114215235/https://www.hospitalityireland.com/general-industry/lauda-announces-new-route-shannon-vienna-81741 |url-status=live }}</ref> The airport handled 1,864,762 passengers in 2018. This number is the highest passenger numbers since gaining independence from the DAA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.clare.fm/news/aviation/shannon-group-logs-pre-tax-profits-e12-7-million-2018/ |title=Shannon Group Logs Pre-Tax Profits Of €12.7 Million In 2018 |date=30 April 2019 |access-date=14 November 2021 |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114221601/https://www.clare.fm/news/aviation/shannon-group-logs-pre-tax-profits-e12-7-million-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shannon-airport.com/ |title=Shannon Airport (SNN) |access-date=14 November 2021 |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114221610/https://www.shannon-airport.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Usage for military stopovers ===
Shannon Airport has a history of foreign military use. A large part of its business in recent years has been military stopovers, currently almost all American; however, the airport was also frequently used by the Soviet military until the 1990s, since Ireland, having a traditional policy of military neutrality, was not a member of [[NATO]]. There were some restrictions, such as carrying no arms, ammunition, or explosives, and that the flights in question did not form part of military exercises or operations. Shannon saw military transports throughout the [[Cold War]] and during the first [[Gulf War]].

In the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]], the [[Irish government]] offered the use of Shannon to the [[Federal government of the United States|US government]]. When the United States invaded [[Iraq]] in 2003, the government still allowed [[United States Armed Forces]] to use the airport. This caused controversy and was the subject of protests and a challenge brought to the [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=/ie/cases/IEHC/2003/64.html |title=High Court of Ireland Decisions |publisher=Bailii.org |access-date=15 January 2014 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181902/http://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/markup.cgi?doc=%2Fie%2Fcases%2FIEHC%2F2003%2F64.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As of November 2008, approximately 1.2 million troops had passed through Shannon since the beginning of the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1106/1225893547102.html |title=Almost 200,000 troops use Shannon |publisher=Irishtimes.com |date=6 November 2008 |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021212601/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1106/1225893547102.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2012–2013, the military flight contracts are held by [[Omni Air International]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-us-militarys-international-airlift-contracts-05066/ |title=The US Military's International Airlift Contracts |work=Defense Industry Daily |publisher=Defense Industry Daily, LLC |access-date=3 October 2015 |archive-date=28 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928174919/https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/the-us-militarys-international-airlift-contracts-05066/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 December 2005, the [[BBC]] programme ''[[Newsnight]]'' alleged that Shannon was used on at least 33 occasions by United States [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) [[rendition aircraft#Shannon Airport, Ireland|flights]], thought to be part of a US policy called [[extraordinary rendition by the United States|extraordinary rendition]]. ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported the number to be 33, though referring to "Ireland" rather than Shannon, while [[Amnesty International]] has alleged the number of flights to be 50. [[Casement Aerodrome]] has seen similar reports. The United States and Ireland have denied these allegations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/gilmore-accepts-us-assurance-of-no-rendition-flights-through-shannon-231876-Sep2011/ |title=Gilmore accepts US assurance of no rendition flights through Shannon |publisher=Thejournal.ie |date=20 September 2011 |access-date=15 January 2014 |archive-date=16 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116102550/http://www.thejournal.ie/gilmore-accepts-us-assurance-of-no-rendition-flights-through-shannon-231876-Sep2011/ |url-status=live }}</ref> German [[Khaled El-Masri]], who was mistakenly tortured by the CIA after being abducted by the Macedonian police, was taken to an Afghan [[black site]] by a plane which had stopped at Shannon Airport on its way to North Macedonia to pick him up. In response, Amnesty International Ireland reported that "the Irish Government knew that the CIA used Shannon Airport as part of their renditions operations" and called for an independent investigation into the use of Shannon Airport for extraordinary renditions operation by the USA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plane used to transfer unlawfully detained man landed at Shannon |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/shannon-airport-man-detained-714091-Dec2012/ |agency=Journal.ie}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Abduction plane stopped in Shannon |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abduction-plane-stopped-in-shannon-26338273.html |agency=Irish Independent}}</ref>

After a call by the [[Irish Human Rights Commission]] that the Irish government inspect aircraft supposed to be a part of the US extraordinary rendition program, the Minister for Foreign Affairs [[Dermot Ahern]] rejected these proposals. In a leaked [[diplomatic cable]] written by US Ambassador to Ireland [[Thomas C. Foley]], Foley reported that Ahern thought it "might not be a bad idea to allow the random inspection of a few planes to proceed, which would provide cover if a rendition flight ever surfaced. He seemed quite convinced that at least three flights involving renditions had refueled at Shannon Airport before or after conducting renditions elsewhere".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reilly |first1=Gavan |title=Ahern suspected US carried prisoners through Shannon: WikiLeaks |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/ahern-suspected-us-carried-prisoners-through-shannon-wikileaks-59178-Dec2010/ |work=The Journal |date=10 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Phelan |first1=Shane |title=Wikileaks: Memo tells of Ahern's rendition fears |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/wikileaks-memo-tells-of-aherns-rendition-fears/26607357.html |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=17 December 2010}}</ref>

== Facilities ==
=== Overview ===
The current airport terminal was opened on 27 March 2000 by the [[Minister for Transport (Ireland)|Minister for Public Enterprise]], [[Mary O'Rourke]]. This facility has 40 [[airport check-in|check-in]] desks, five baggage carousels and 14 boarding [[gate (airport)|gates]] (including six [[Jet bridge|airbridges]]). There are nearly 20 aircraft parking stands. The car parks can hold 4,200 cars.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.carhire.ie/car-hire-shannon-airport.php |title=Shannon Airport Information |website=Car Hire |access-date=8 October 2014 |archive-date=14 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014062653/https://www.carhire.ie/car-hire-shannon-airport.php |url-status=live }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=April 2019}}

Much of the older landside section of the airport has been renovated with new 'Shannon Airport' branding. An airside area renovation and passenger separation project was completed in Summer 2010.<ref>{{cite web |date=2008 |url=http://www.shannonairport.com/company/mediacentre/airportfacts.html |title=Airport Facts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128000226/http://www.shannonairport.com/company/mediacentre/airportfacts.html |archive-date=2010-11-28 |website=Shannon Airport }}</ref>

When [[Eirjet]] existed, its head office was located on the grounds of Shannon Airport.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20060701040623/http://www.eirjet.com/ home]" [[Eirjet]]. 1 July 2006. Retrieved on 15 September 2010.</ref>

In 2024, [[Aer Lingus]] announced the airline would be closing its Shannon based cargo facility citing low demand and lack of commercial justification to remain present there. Cargo operations managed by [[IAG Cargo]] reviewed the ongoing operations at Shannon airport and decided it would be beneficial to close the facility at the end of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garbuno |first=Daniel |date=9 August 2024 |title=Ireland's Aer Lingus to close cargo facilities at Shannon |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/143555-irelands-aer-lingus-to-close-cargo-facilities-at-shannon |access-date=October 19, 2024 |website=[[ch-aviation]]}}</ref>

=== U.S. Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance ===
[[File:U.S. Preclearance - Shannon (SNN) Airport.jpg|thumb|U.S. preclearance facility at Shannon Airport]]
In 1986, a [[United States border preclearance]] facility was opened at Shannon, eliminating the need to go through immigration on arrival in the United States.<ref name="shannonpreclearance" /> This operation was administered by the US Justice Department, specifically the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). 

In November 2008, it was announced that US customs and agriculture inspections would be added, making Shannon the first airport in Europe to offer this service and to enable passengers to arrive in New York on a "domestic" basis. To have these facilities put in place, a two-storey, {{Convert|7000|m2|abbr=on}} extension to the main terminal building was constructed. The facility opened the morning of 5 August 2009.<ref name="shannonpreclearance">{{cite web <!--|author=Chris Kjelgaard--> |url=http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airports/shannon-is-first-european-airport-to-offer-full-u-s-pre-clearance/ |title=Shannon Is First Euro Airport with Full U.S. Pre-Clearance |website=Airlines and Destinations |date=5 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.snnairportgroup.ie/aviation/us-pre-clearance-for-airlines-jets/ |title=US Pre-clearance for Commercial Airlines & Private Jets |website=Shannon Airport Group}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/us-cbp-preclearance-ireland-explained/index.html |title=There's a US border on Irish soil. Here's why |website=CNN |date=15 March 2024}}</ref>

These services were extended to cover private aircraft in 2010, making Shannon the first airport in Europe to offer US border preclearance for private aircraft.<ref name=":0" /> Shannon is the only airport to do so in Europe as of September 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/business/aviation-development/us-preclearance-for-private-aircraft.aspx |title=US Preclearance for Private Aircraft |website=Shannon Airport |access-date=17 September 2016 |archive-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918005650/http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/business/aviation-development/us-preclearance-for-private-aircraft.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

Between 2009 and 2020, [[British Airways]] operated [[business class]]–only flights between [[London City Airport]] and [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in New York. Of these, the westbound flights stopped for fuel in Shannon to allow them to take off from the short runway of the London City Airport, which is located in the [[London Docklands]] area. This stop also allowed passengers to clear US Customs and Immigration in Shannon rather than at JFK. Introduced in 2009, two flights per day, one of which carried the flight number BA1, were operated using [[Airbus A318|A318]] aircraft capable of operating steep approaches.<ref>{{cite web|last=André Orban|date=2020-07-31|title=British Airways retires the A318 "BabyBus" operating the London City-New York JFK route|url=https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/international-airlines-group-iag/british-airways/british-airways-retires-the-a318-babybus-operating-the-london-city-new-york-jfk-route/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Aviation24.be|language=en-GB|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814202944/https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/international-airlines-group-iag/british-airways/british-airways-retires-the-a318-babybus-operating-the-london-city-new-york-jfk-route/|url-status=live}}</ref> The flights were halved in 2017, and in 2020, amid their suspension due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], it was announced that the flights would not be resumed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaminski-Morrow |date=2020-07-31|first=David|title=BA axes A318 premium service that took over Concorde flight number|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/ba-axes-a318-premium-service-that-took-over-concorde-flight-number/139579.article|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Flight Global|language=en|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801174308/https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/ba-axes-a318-premium-service-that-took-over-concorde-flight-number/139579.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Security===
In 2021, Shannon Airport deployed [[CT scanner]]s at passenger security checkpoints, enabling it to lift the [[Security repercussions due to the 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot|restrictions on liquids]] which had been in place since 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shannonairport.ie/passengers/at-the-airport/flying-out/security/know-your-liquid-restrictions/ |title=Shannon Airport - Liquids on Flights &#124; Liquids in Luggage |publisher=Shannon Airport |date= |accessdate=2022-08-05}}</ref>

== Airlines and destinations ==
=== Passenger ===
<!-- Please give an independent source when adding or removing a routes.-->
The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights to and from Shannon:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shannonairport.ie/passengers/flights/where-when-which-airline/summer/ |title=Routes at a Glance Summer 2021 Flights by Destination |publisher=Shannon Airport |access-date=13 June 2021 |archive-date=21 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721215755/https://www.shannonairport.ie/passengers/flights/where-when-which-airline/summer/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{needs update|date=September 2024}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shannonairport.ie/airlines/ |title=Airlines at Shannon |publisher=Shannon Airport |access-date=21 September 2024}}</ref>

{{Airport destination list
<!-- -->
| [[Aer Lingus]] | [[Logan International Airport|Boston]],<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.clare.fm/featured-2/new-shannon-paris-service-run-autumn-next-year/|title=New Shannon-Paris Service To Run Until Autumn Next Year|date=22 June 2023}}</ref> [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clare.fm/news/aer-lingus-anticipates-shannon-heathrow-cancellations-october/|title=Aer Lingus Anticipates Further Shannon-Heathrow Cancellations Before October|date=26 July 2022}}</ref> [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]],<ref name="auto1"/> [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/143555-irelands-aer-lingus-to-close-cargo-facilities-at-shannon|title=Ireland's Aer Lingus to close cargo facilities at Shannon|work=ch-aviation |date=9 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230623-eisep23snncdg|title=AerLingus Resumes Shannon – Paris Service From Sep 2023|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=23 June 2023|accessdate=14 March 2025|language=en}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Delta Air Lines]]}} | '''Seasonal:''' [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clare.fm/news/shannon-new-york-daily-service-resume-weekend/|title=Shannon To New York Daily Service To Resume This Weekend|date=23 May 2024}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Discover Airlines]]}} | '''Seasonal:''' [[Frankfurt Airport|Frankfurt]] (begins 4 April 2026)<ref>{{cite web | title=New route from Shannon to Frankfurt for next summer | website=[[RTÉ.ie]] | date=29 July 2025 | url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0729/1525907-new-shannon-route-to-frankfurt/ }}</ref>
<!-- -->
| [[Ryanair]] | [[Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport|Alicante]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001">{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Shannon, Ireland Republic Of|date=August 2023|volume=25|issue=2|publisher=[[OAG (company)|OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited]]|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=1001}}</ref> [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport|Budapest]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Faro Airport|Faro]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Fuerteventura Airport|Fuerteventura]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport|Funchal]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/local-news/1678135/new-direct-flight-to-madeira-announced-for-shannon-airport-for-summer-2025.html | title=Twice weekly service from Shannon to Madeira will commence from March 2025 | date=11 December 2024 }}</ref> [[Kaunas Airport|Kaunas]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Kraków John Paul II International Airport|Kraków]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Lanzarote Airport|Lanzarote]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Liverpool]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/ryanair-announces-three-new-routes-25702962 | title=Ryanair announces three new routes from Liverpool Airport | date=8 December 2022 }}</ref> [[Gatwick Airport|London–Gatwick]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[London Stansted Airport|London–Stansted]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220726-fraug22gbie|title=Ryanair August 2022 UK / Ireland Network Adjustment - 24JUL22|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=26 July 2022|accessdate=31 March 2025|language=en}}</ref> [[Málaga Airport|Málaga]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Poznań Airport|Poznań]] (resumes 31 March 2026),<ref name="2026 summer">{{cite web|url=https://www.clareecho.ie/ryanair-announce-shannon-routes-to-madrid-poznan-rome-warsaw-for-summer-schedule/|title=Ryanair announce Shannon routes to Madrid, Poznań, Rome & Warsaw for summer schedule|last1=McMahon|first1=Páraic|date=11 November 2025|accessdate=18 November 2025|publisher=Clare Echo}}</ref> [[Rome Ciampino Airport|Rome–Ciampino]] (begins 31 March 2026),<ref name="2026 summer"></ref> [[Tenerife South Airport|Tenerife–South]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Warsaw Modlin Airport|Warsaw–Modlin]] (resumes 30 March 2026),<ref name="2026 summer"></ref> [[Wrocław Airport|Wrocław]]<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> <br /> '''Seasonal:''' [[Béziers Cap d'Agde Airport|Béziers]],<ref name="RyanairS23">{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/1006/1327530-shannon-ryanair-routes/ |title=Ryanair announce new routes |date=12 October 2022 |website=rte.ie}}</ref> [[Corfu International Airport|Corfu]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Girona–Costa Brava Airport|Girona]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Gran Canaria Airport|Gran Canaria]],<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Gran Canaria, Canary Is.|date=February 2023|volume=24|issue=8|publisher=[[OAG (company)|OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited]]|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=332–334}}</ref> [[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid]],<ref name="auto">{{cite news | title=Ryanair to boost Shannon winter services | newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/06/04/ryanair-to-boost-shannon-winter-services/ }}</ref> [[Malta International Airport|Malta]], [[Naples International Airport|Naples]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://italiavola.com/2022/11/19/ryanair-apre-quattro-nuove-rotte-da-napoli/ | title=Ryanair apre quattro nuove rotte da Napoli | date=19 November 2022 }}</ref> [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Porto Airport|Porto]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.irelandtraveldeals.com/ryanair-route-shannon-to-porto-portugal/ | title=Ryanair adds new Porto route to Shannon Summer'23 schedule! }}</ref> [[Reus Airport|Reus]],<ref name="OAG_World_Aug2023_1001_1001"/> [[Rovaniemi Airport|Rovaniemi]],<ref name="auto"/> [[Turin Airport|Turin]]<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Turin, Italy|date=February 2023|volume=24|issue=8|publisher=[[OAG (company)|OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited]]|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=905–906}}</ref>
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[United Airlines]]}} | '''Seasonal:''' [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clare.fm/news/shannon-to-operate-daily-service-chicago-next-summer/|title=Shannon To Operate Daily Service To Chicago From Next Summer|date=12 October 2022}}</ref> [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clare.fm/news/united-airlines-announces-resumption-shannon-newark-service/|title=United Airlines Announces Resumption Of Shannon To Newark Service|date=28 October 2021}}</ref>
<!-- -->
}}

=== Cargo ===
<!-- Please give an independent source when adding or removing a routes.-->
{{Airport-dest-list
<!-- -->
| {{nowrap|[[Turkish Airlines|Turkish Cargo]]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/276144/turkish-airlines-cargo-outlines-777-freighter-network-in-dec-2017/ |title=Turkish Airlines Cargo outlines 777 Freighter network in Dec 2017 |publisher=Routesonline.com |last=Liu |first=Jim |date=11 December 2017 |access-date=26 May 2019 |archive-date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421221505/https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/276144/turkish-airlines-cargo-outlines-777-freighter-network-in-dec-2017/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]], [[Istanbul Airport|Istanbul]], [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]
<!-- -->
}}

== Statistics ==
=== Passenger numbers ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Year !! Total<br />passengers<ref name=ShannonPAX>{{cite web |url=http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/about-us/traffic-figures.aspx |title=Shannon Airport Traffic Figures |publisher=Shannon Airport |access-date=17 May 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402121841/http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/about-us/traffic-figures.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> !! Passengers<br />% change<br />YoY
|-
| 2005 || 3,302,046 || {{increase}}{{0}}32.1
|-
| 2006 || 3,639,046 || {{increase}}{{0}}10.2
|-
| 2007 || 3,620,623 || {{decrease}}{{0}}0.5
|-
| 2008 || 3,169,529 || {{decrease}}{{0}}12.5
|-
| 2009 || 2,794,563 || {{decrease}}{{0}}11.8
|-
| 2010 || 1,755,885 || {{decrease}}{{0}}37.2
|-
| 2011 || 1,625,453 || {{decrease}}{{0}}7.4
|-
| 2012 || 1,394,781 || {{decrease}}{{0}}14.2
|-
| 2013 || 1,440,034 || {{increase}}{{0}}3.2
|-
| 2014 || 1,639,315 || {{increase}}{{0}}13.8
|-
| 2015 || 1,714,872 || {{increase}}{{0}}4.6
|-
| 2016 || 1,749,367<ref name="anna" /> || {{increase}}{{0}}2.0
|-
| 2017 || 1,751,500 || {{increase}}{{0}}0.1
|-
| 2018 || 1,864,762 || {{increase}}{{0}}6.5
|-
| 2019 || 1,710,000<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/shannon-airport-fails-to-take-off-1.4141011|title=Shannon Airport fails to take off|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=4 November 2020|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019221951/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/shannon-airport-fails-to-take-off-1.4141011|url-status=live}}</ref> || {{decrease}}{{0}}8.0
|-
| 2020 || 360,000<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/shannon-group-to-restore-20-pay-cut-when-passengers-hit-one-million-1.4488962|title=Shannon Group to restore 20% pay cut when passengers hit one million|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=18 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218202049/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/shannon-group-to-restore-20-pay-cut-when-passengers-hit-one-million-1.4488962|url-status=live}}</ref>  || {{decrease}}{{0}}78.9
|-
| 2021 || 379,935 || {{increase}}{{0}}5.5
|-
| 2022 || 1,518,170 || {{increase}}  300{{0}}
|-
| 2023 || 1,958,000 || {{increase}}  29{{0}}
|-
| 2024 || 2,050,831 || {{increase}}  8{{0}}
|-
|}

{{See also|List of the busiest airports in the Republic of Ireland}}

=== Busiest routes ===

{|class="wikitable sortable" width= align=
|+ '''10 busiest international routes at Shannon Airport (2024)'''
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Rank|| Airport || Passengers <br /> handled || % change <br /> 2023/24
|-
|1|| [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]] || 284,621 || {{increase}}  10.3{{0}}
|-
|2||  [[London Stansted Airport|London–Stansted]] || 241,283 || {{increase}}  0.5{{0}}
|-
|3||  [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|New York–JFK]]|| 135,471 || {{increase}}    39.4{{0}}
|-
|4||  [[Gatwick Airport|London–Gatwick]]|| 122,581 || {{increase}}{{0}}  2.5
|-
|5||  [[Logan International Airport|Boston]]|| 101,740 || {{increase}}{{0}}0.7
|-
|6|| [[Kraków John Paul II International Airport|Kraków]]|| 75,250 || {{increase}}{{0}}49.2
|-
|7|| [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]]|| 74,878 || {{decrease}}{{0}}5.8
|-
|8||  [[Wroclaw Airport|Wroclaw]]|| 74,170 || {{increase}}-{{0}} 
|-
|9|| [[Faro Airport|Faro]]|| 72,014 || {{increase}}   -{{0}}
|-
|10||  [[Lanzarote Airport|Lanzarote]]|| 70,745 || {{increase}}   -{{0}}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="5" style="text-align:right;"| <sup>''Source: [[Central Statistics Office (Ireland)|Central Statistics Office]]''<ref>{{cite web |date=30 May 2025 |title=Aviation Statistics Quarter 4 and Year 2024 |url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-as/aviationstatisticsquarter4andyear2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604155514/https://statbank.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=ctm01 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |access-date=26 April 2020 |publisher=Central Statistics Office}}</ref></sup>
|}

== Ground transportation ==

=== Road ===
[[File:N18 Southbound Near Shannon.jpg|thumb|right|[[N18 road (Ireland)|N18]] near Shannon Airport exit]]

Shannon Airport is the end destination of the [[N19 road (Ireland)|N19]] [[National primary road|national route]], which connects to the [[N18 road (Ireland)|N18]]/[[M18 motorway (Ireland)|M18]] Limerick–Ennis–Galway route. It is also the western end of European road [[European route E20|E20]]. A [[dual carriageway]] section of the N19 was finished in 2004, bypassing the town of [[Shannon, County Clare|Shannon]], and a new [[interchange (road)|interchange]] and dual carriageway north to [[Ennis]] were completed in 2007 on the N18 ([[M18 motorway (Ireland)|M18]]). It is approximately {{convert|20|km|mi}} south of [[Ennis]], {{convert|25|km|mi}} west of [[Limerick]] and around {{convert|85|km|mi}} south of [[Galway]]. [[Dublin]] is approximately {{convert|223|km|mi}} away and [[Cork (city)|Cork]] is around {{convert|125|km|mi}} away.

=== Bus ===
[[Bus Éireann]] services from/to the airport:
* Route 51: Galway – Limerick – Cork<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/51-1632233790.pdf |title=Expressway Route 51 |access-date=24 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=24 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924212739/https://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/51-1632233790.pdf }}</ref>
* Route 343: Limerick – Shannon – Ennis<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=&form-view-timetables-to=&form-view-timetables-route=343&form-view-timetables-submit=1 |title=View Timetables- Bus Eireann - Route 343 |access-date=24 September 2021 |url-status=live |archive-date=24 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924212739/https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=406&form-view-timetables-from=&form-view-timetables-to=&form-view-timetables-route=343&form-view-timetables-submit=1 }}</ref>
From 20th June 2024 Expressway will commence route X51 on nonstop service to both Galway and Limerick<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 Aug 2024 |title=Shannon Airport Services |url=https://www.expressway.ie/shannon-airport-services |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=www.expressway.ie}}</ref> 

=== Car hire ===
Car hire is available in the arrivals hall of the terminal building, with five car rental firms operating at the airport.<ref>{{cite web|title =Car Rental|url =http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/Passengers/Go/car-rental.aspx|access-date =29 February 2016|archive-date =3 March 2016|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160303095554/http://www.shannonairport.ie/gns/Passengers/Go/car-rental.aspx|url-status =live}}</ref> Private-hire coaches and buses such as Eirebus are available from many operators;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eirebus.ie |title=Eirebus |website=www.eirebus.ie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224170031/https://www.eirebus.ie/ |archive-date=24 February 2021}}</ref> these need to be pre-booked and can transport passengers to any destination in Ireland.

=== Car parking ===
Shannon Airport offers both short-term and long-term parking within the airport with over 5,000 spaces available. All car parks operate 24 hours and are regularly patrolled by [[Airport Police (Ireland)|Airport Police]].

=== Rail link ===
For many years, a rail link to the airport (as a spur from the nearby [[Western Railway Corridor|Limerick–Ennis]] line) has been proposed,<ref>{{cite news |last=Woulfe |first=Jimmy |title=Iarnród Éireann to look at feasibility of rail link to Shannon Airport |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2006/0428/ireland/iarnrod-eireann-to-look-at-feasibility-of-rail-link-to-shannon-airport-1932.html |work=Irish Examiner |access-date=23 December 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110025/http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2006/0428/ireland/iarnrod-eireann-to-look-at-feasibility-of-rail-link-to-shannon-airport-1932.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but nothing has materialised.<ref>{{cite web |last=McMahon |first=Páraic |date=2021-03-11 |title=NTA behind proposal to bring rail link to Shannon Airport |url=https://www.clareecho.ie/nta-behind-proposal-to-bring-rail-link-to-shannon-airport/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-06-25 |website=[[Clare Echo]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625095633/https://www.clareecho.ie/nta-behind-proposal-to-bring-rail-link-to-shannon-airport/ }}</ref> Connecting with the nearest major stations ([[Ennis railway station]] and [[Limerick railway station]]) requires bus or taxi. [[Sixmilebridge railway station|Sixmilebridge]] is the nearest station to the airport.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishrail.ie/ |title=Irish Rail |access-date=11 April 2014 |archive-date=24 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824000211/http://www.irishrail.ie/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Accidents and incidents ==
{{more citations needed|section|reason=Some of the entries are unreferenced and do not point directly to other articles about the incident in question. These should be referenced or removed|date=December 2021}}
Due to the location of Shannon, the airport receives a large number of emergency stopovers.

* 16 July 1943 – [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] de Havilland DH91 ''Fortuna'' crash-landed short of the Runway 14 threshold. There were no injuries.
* 18 June 1946 – an [[Aer Lingus]] [[Douglas DC-3]], EI-ACA, ''Charlie Alpha'', on a domestic flight from Rineanna to Dublin crashed shortly after takeoff with only minor injuries reported. The aircraft made a wheels-up landing short of the runway and was damaged beyond repair.
* 28 December 1946 – [[TWA]] [[Lockheed Constellation]] NC86505 [[TWA Flight 6963|Flight 6963]] crashed attempting to land at the airport in poor visibility. The aircraft was routing Paris, Shannon, Gander, New York. The aircraft crashed on its second attempt short of runway 14 on Inishmacnaughtan Island.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19461228-1 |title=Accident description: Lockheed Constellation N86505 |website=aviation-safety.net |access-date=23 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010041940/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19461228-1 |archive-date=10 October 2010}}</ref> Nine of the 23 people on board died.
* 15 April 1948 – [[Pan Am Flight 1-10]], a Lockheed Constellation crashed attempting to land at the airport. 30 Passengers and crew died in the post crash fire. There was one survivor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.panamair.org/accidents/empressskies.htm |title=Clipper Empress of the Skies: Accident Investigation Report |website=Pan Am air.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716031228/http://www.panamair.org/accidents/empressskies.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=23 September 2010}}</ref>
* 5 September 1954 – Lockheed Super Constellation PH-LKY, [[KLM Flight 633]] from Amsterdam to New York City, using Shannon as a refuelling stop, crashed just after takeoff into a mudbank adjacent to the airport. 28 people on board died. There were 28 survivors.
* 15 July 1956 – a [[Swissair]] Convair CV-440-11 crashed on approach to the airport due to pilot error. The aircraft was on its delivery flight from San Diego, California, to Zürich via New York, Gander and Shannon. The crash killed all four crew on board.
* 14 August 1958 – Lockheed Super Constellation PH-LKM [[KLM Flight 607-E]] from Amsterdam to New York crashed into the Atlantic Ocean after a refuelling stop at Shannon, killing all 99 passengers and crew on board.
* 22 June 1959 - Pan American DC-6B N5026K, [[1959 Pan Am Douglas DC-6 crash|Clipper Panama]], caught fire and burned on the runway as it was preparing to take off. The aircraft was preparing for a flight to New York. The number 1 propeller blade on the number 4 engine detached due to metal fatigue. The imbalance on the spinning propeller caused the engine to detach from the engine housing and a fire erupted on the wing. The eight occupants escaped from the aircraft, which was subsequently destroyed by fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19590622-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-6A/B N5026K Shannon Airport (SNN)|access-date=18 February 2021|archive-date=18 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918083120/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19590622-0|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 26 February 1960 – an [[Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane|Alitalia]] [[Douglas DC-7]]C I-DUVO crashed after the port wingtip struck the wall of a cemetery  after taking off from the airport. The aircraft had made an unscheduled refuelling stop en route from Rome to New York. The aircraft had not gained sufficient height to clear the hilltop where the cemetery is located. The aircraft then crashed in the field where it exploded and disintegrated, scattering wreckage over a wide area. 34 people out of 52 passengers and crew on board died as a result of the accident. One cabin crew member, a steward who was seated at the rear of the aircraft, survived the accident.
* 26 March 1961 - An Eagle Airways DC-6A G-APOM was damaged and subsequently destroyed by fire during a touch and go training exercise.  The aircraft had landed on runway 24 and was accelerating for takeoff when the landing gear was inadvertently raised before the aircraft became airborne. The DC-6 settled onto the runway, veered to the left off the paved surface and onto the grass.  A fire began on the port wing and eventually consumed and destroyed the aircraft. There were no injuries among the six crew, who evacuated the aircraft.
* 10 September 1961 – a [[1961 President Airlines Douglas DC-6 crash|President Airlines Douglas DC-6 crashed]] into the river Shannon after taking off from the airport on a flight to Gander. The disaster killed all 83 passengers and crew, one of the worst air disasters in Ireland's history. One cabin crew member survived the crash but died a few hours after being rescued.
* 30 September 1977 – an Interconair Bristol 175 Britannia 253 EI-BBY crashed in a field to the right of runway 24 after severe vibration on the approach. The left wing broke off and caught fire, but none of the six crew were injured in the crash.
* 2 October 1977 - Capitol Air DC-8-61 N911CL aborted takeoff on runway 24 as it accelerated for takeoff en route Rome-Shannon-Windsor Locks. There was a failure of tyres on the left main wheel bogie during taxi, and as the aircraft accelerated the tyre shredded and sent tyre fragments up into the wing underside, rupturing the fuel tanks. The escaping fuel ignited and caused a rapid large fire under the left wing. ATC spotted the fire as did the crew of a sister aircraft which was taxiing in after landing. The aircraft was just at the point of V1 when takeoff was abandoned and the DC-8 decelerated and stopped just short of the end of runway 24. The aircraft was evacuated and approximately 50 passengers were injured during the evacuation. The aircraft was seriously damaged but repaired and returned to service a number of months later. Had the aircraft become airborne, it is likely the left wing would have failed and the aircraft would have crashed.
* 20 June 1979 – [[American Airlines Flight 293]] landed in Shannon after being hijacked.
* 5 February 2024 – [[Cargolux]] [[Boeing 747-400]] ''LX-NCL'', carrying flowers from Miami to Amsterdam, diverted to Shannon Airport due to a cargo deck fire warning. The aircraft landed safely and the crew was evacuated, but airport fire crews found no evidence of heat, smoke or fire. The runway where the flight landed was closed for two hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Flynn |first1=Pat |last2=Telford |first2=Thomas |date=2024-02-05 |title=Shannon Airport flight emergency after fire fear onboard aircraft |url=https://www.galwaybeo.ie/news/ireland-news/shannon-airport-flight-emergency-after-9078351 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Galway Beo |language=en}}</ref>

== Environmental issues ==
As Shannon Airport has been built adjacent to the [[Shannon Estuary]], it is likely to have problems with [[sea level rise|rising sea levels]] and high waters in the [[River Shannon|Shannon]]. The government is working on plans to protect both the airport and [[Shannon, County Clare|the town]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/flooding/shannon-airport-at-risk-of-being-swept-away-as-state-could-face-32bn-flood-cleanup-bill-35668344.html |title=Shannon Airport at risk of being 'swept away' as State could face €3.2bn flood clean-up bill |date=May 2017 |access-date=1 May 2017 |archive-date=1 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501110130/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/flooding/shannon-airport-at-risk-of-being-swept-away-as-state-could-face-32bn-flood-cleanup-bill-35668344.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{NWS-current|EINN}}
* {{ASN|SNN}}

{{Portalbar|Ireland|Aviation}}
{{Airports in Ireland}}

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[[Category:Transport in County Clare]]
[[Category:Airports with United States border preclearance]]
[[Category:Airports in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Airports established in 1942]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Ireland]]