A new twice weekly service from Shannon Airport to Stockholm is to commence operation in August 2017.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will operate the service Tuesday’s and Saturday’s from 1st August until 7th October next year twice as part of its summer programme along with fourteen other routes. SAS is one of the founding members of Star Alliance, one of the world’s largest global airline alliances which currently have 27 member airlines.
Matthew Thomas, CEO, Shannon Group was very pleased with the announcement. “This new service will not only have a positive impact for inbound tourism for the West of Ireland, but will also provide valuable business connectivity as people using the service will be able to connect at the SAS hub at Stockholm Arlanda Airport for flights to over 22 destinations.
The announcement is another first for Shannon and a great boost for the region by one of the world’s major airlines. We are thrilled to welcome SAS to Shannon and we look forward to working with them to ensure the success of the new service.”
Speaking of SAS’s commitment to Shannon, Alan Sparling, GSA for SAS in Ireland commented: “SAS are currently celebrating 50 years of nonstop flights into Ireland and can think of no better way to start into a sixth decade than by opening a new route between Shannon and Stockholm. SAS has no doubt there will be a very keen interest and uptake for this new route and we look forward to developing this route into the future.”
Commenting on the tourism potential of the route Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “The announcement of a new SAS flight from Stockholm to Shannon is good news for Irish tourism in 2017 and will certainly expand travel options for Swedish holidaymakers wishing to visit Co Clare and the West of Ireland. As an island destination, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism.
The Nordic Region is an important market for tourism to the island of Ireland, with the latest CSO figures indicating growth of about +3.5% in Nordic visitors to Ireland, for the January to August period,” he said.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey believes it is a further endorsement of the successful campaign to secure the airport’s independence from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). “With the current uncertainly over Brexit, it is heartening to see an expansion of Shannon’s links to the European mainland. It has the potential to bring thousands of Swedish holidaymakers to Clare and the West of Ireland. The importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights to Shannon cannot be overstated as they are absolutely critical to the tourism industry in Clare and the greater Shannon region.
