shannon Airport welcomed over 2.3 million passengers in 2025, marking the highest traffic in 16 years and a 9% increase compared with 2024. The growth was supported by new routes, expanded services, and increased airline investment in the region.
Ryanair strengthened its presence at Shannon by adding a fourth based aircraft, representing an additional $100 million investment. The airline also introduced new destinations including Madeira, Lapland, and Madrid, alongside increased flight frequencies on more than 10 existing routes.
The airport announced plans to operate 40 routes in 2026, covering destinations across Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Five new routes are scheduled for the summer, including Rome, Warsaw, Madrid, and Poznan with Ryanair, and Frankfurt with Discover Airlines, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary. Several existing routes, such as Aer Lingus flights to Boston, will see increased frequency to meet rising demand.
Shannon Airport is set to invest over €40 million this year in infrastructure projects. Planned upgrades include improvements to immigration and baggage halls, upgraded taxiways, and a new thermal wrap for the external arrivals area of the terminal. These initiatives are expected to contribute to the airport’s energy efficiency and sustainability targets.
Ray O’Driscoll, interim CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, described 2025 as a “really positive year.” He said the airport invested more than €20 million in projects that directly benefit passengers and support sustainability goals. He added that total investment in the group has reached almost €200 million over the past decade.
In 2025, Shannon Airport completed several major sustainability and infrastructure projects. Ireland’s first airfield solar photovoltaic (PV) farm was launched, projected to supply up to 20% of the airport’s electricity needs. The airport also added 1,000 new passenger car park spaces, bringing the total to over 5,600 across five short-stay and long-stay car parks, which accommodated more than 200,000 vehicles last year. An expansion of European passenger boarding gates was also completed.
Over the past ten years, The Shannon Airport Group has developed more than one million square feet of space across the airport and its commercial property business. In 2026, construction will begin on Blocks Y and Z at the Shannon Airport Business Park, adding a combined 100,000 square feet of energy-efficient space.
O’Driscoll emphasised the airport’s broader role in the region. “We are far more than just an airport, and we are proud of the role The Shannon Airport Group plays in driving tourism, trade, and economic growth,” he said. “As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, we remain committed to delivering excellent customer experiences, expanding our route network, and continuing our investment in sustainability and infrastructure to be best-in-class.”
