Shannon Airport confirms that it that has not been possible to come to a new agreement with Ryanair, as the airline has continued to make unreasonable demands. Ryanair had offered to provide Shannon Airport a reduced traffic target of only 600,000 annual passengers - as compared to the previously agreed throughput of two million passengers per year - and wanted to pay a minimal passenger charge. This offer was rejected on the basis that it did not make commercial sense for Shannon Airport.

Martin Moroney, Director, Shannon Airport said, “The airport would require the payment of fully commercial charges for such a low level of passenger traffic, and therefore it could not accede to the unreasonable demands of Ryanair for the continuation of some routes at a minimal level of charge.”

Shannon Airport is pleased that Ryanair has pledged to continue the operation of eight routes from Shannon with its remaining based aircraft, including important connections to airports such as Stansted, Gatwick, Paris Beauvais and Malaga. “We wish to see Ryanair continue serving Shannon in the future but it has to be on a basis that is commercially viable for both Shannon Airport and for Ryanair,” Mr Moroney added.

“Shannon, like all airports globally, is operating in an extremely challenging environment and simply cannot undertake non-commercially viable arrangements with airline partners.”

Shannon Airport continues to examine other options for serving additional UK and European destinations. “We are currently in positive ongoing communication with existing and potential new airline partners with a view to providing as many services as possible for the public from Shannon. We remain open to proposals from any airlines, including Ryanair, that are mutually beneficial,” Mr Moroney said.