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.

Shannon Chamber has submitted constructive suggestions to the National Transport Authority (NTA) on how the current draft of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Network (LSMATS) 2040 could be further refined to deliver tangible benefits to Shannon.

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.

The joint chambers of Limerick, Ennis, Shannon and Galway have urged all stakeholders to engage to ensure that a plan for strategic route connectivity is put in place and actioned as soon as demand returns to the market.

Ryanair has confirmed that a revision of its winter schedule will see the closure of the airline’s bases at Shannon and Cork for the winter months.

Shannon Group has welcomed the announcement in Budget 2021 of a €10 million support package for Shannon and Cork airports.

The €10m allocated to Cork and Shannon Airports in Budget 2021 is “utterly inadequate” to compensate the airports for the Government's decision to shut down the Irish aviation sector.