The Government has agreed a revised €80 million funding package for Irish aviation including €22m for Shannon and Cork Airports.

A group of 15 Independent TDs will introduce a Private Members Motion to the Dáil tomorrow (10:00am-midday, Wednesday, 11 November 2020) seeking a range of Government interventions to offset “the imminent crisis facing Irish airports”, in particular Shannon, Knock, Kerry, Donegal and Cork airports.

A privately operated drive-thru Covid-19 testing facility is set to be established at Shannon Airport.

The government has issued a statement in relation to international travel which has been seriously affected by Covid-19.

The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks has today written to Minister Eamon Ryan welcoming the Government’s adoption of the EU traffic light system for international travel from midnight on Sunday, 8 November, and calling on the Minister to ensure testing for Covid-19 at Irish airports is a central element of its implementation.

Measures taken to protect the safety of passengers and staff at Shannon Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic have been recognised internationally, with the airport receiving a global endorsement from the Airports Council International (ACI) World and ACI EUROPE.

Ryanair is set to temporarily cease operations at Shannon having already cut flights by half.

The pivotal role played by Shannon Airport on the national business and tourism landscape was reflected over the weekend on the 75th anniversary of the first transatlantic commercial passenger flight.