Episode Details

A Clare TD claims it's "inevitable" that Ryanair's €50 million investment in Shannon Airport will result in new routes in the near future. The Irish airline has stated its intention to build an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar along with a training facility for aircraft mechanics at the Clare base. The announcement has been welcomed as a "powerful endorsement" by the Shannon Airport Group. As part of its planning application for a four-bay aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar at Shannon, the airline is seeking to build a new Ryanair Engineering Academy. This will see the creation of 80 new apprenticeship roles, supporting the training of over 400 additional aircraft mechanics between 2027 and 2031. The three-bay aircraft maintenance hangar currently operated by Ryanair at the airport supports over 200 jobs. Shannon Airport Group CEO Ray O'Driscoll says while the investment doesn't necessarily mean more flights in and out of the airport, they're always working to achieve more growth. Pending planning approval, construction is expected to begin early next year, with the facility expected to be operational in late 2028. Chairperson of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group and Fianna Fáil aviation spokesperson, Meelick TD Cathal Crowe, believes it will make financial sense for Ryanair to add more routes once the hangar is up and running.