Update:
Monday, 3.50pm – Commenting on the 48 hour Government ban on all flights arriving into Ireland which came into effect from midnight last night, a spokesperson for Shannon Airport, a Shannon Group company said: “We advise intending UK bound passengers to contact their airline and not to travel to the airport during the 48 hour period. Our Ryanair service to Wroclaw will continue to operate as normal.
The airport will continue to facilitate transit flights, business jets, its aviation MRO industry services, and emergency and technical diversions. Shannon Airport will facilitate repatriation flights from the UK if and when required. Flight information is available on our airport social media channels and on our website.”
Two services at Shannon Airport from and to Stansted and Manchester with Ryanair are effected by the UK flight ban. The last schedule flight from Shannon Airport to the UK was the Ryanair 477 service to Manchester which departed at 22.35 on Sunday 20th December 2020.
Sunday, 7.23pm – Ryanair flights FR-102 from Shannon to Stansted and the return service (FR-103) on Monday (21st) have been cancelled as a result of the travel restrictions.
The Irish Government has issued a 48-hour ban on flights to Ireland from Great Britain.
In response to the identification of a new strain of Covid-19 in the South-East of England, the Government has announced a ban on all flights arriving into Ireland from Great Britain with effect from midnight tonight, Sunday, 20 December 2020.
The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Health had detailed discussions on Sunday and announced that in the interests of Public Health, people in Britain, regardless of nationality, should not travel to Ireland, by air or by sea.
Flights are being banned for at least 48 hours. The ban is in place for tomorrow Monday, 21 December, and Tuesday 22 December, 2020 and will be reviewed by the Government at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, 22 December 2020.
Ministers have engaged with the UK authorities and the Department of Transport has advised airlines of the ban.
There will be close coordination with the Northern Ireland authorities as these arrangements are put in place.
Ferry crossings between Ireland and Great Britain will continue in order to keep essential supply chains moving. The Government direction for people not to travel from Great Britain to Ireland does not extend to essential supply chain workers (see detailed notes below).
Arrangements are being put in place to facilitate the repatriation of Irish residents on short trips to Great Britain and planning to return in the coming days, as well as international travellers to Ireland who are transiting through Great Britain.
Essential supply chain workers who can continue to travel from GB to Ireland include:
Maritime and Shipping
Ship Master
Deck Officers
Engineering Officers and ETOs
Deck Ratings
Engine Ratings
Pursers
Hotel/Catering Ratings
Cleaners
Contracted technicians
Marine Pilot
Road Haulage
HGV Drivers and/or persons holding an EU Annex 3 International Transport Worker Certificate