Andrew Carey
PASSENGER figures at Shannon Airport are showing that it is proving to be a bumper Christmas for returning emigrants as it is set to record a 21 per cent increase in passenger numbers over the festive season.
Some 43,000 passengers will fly in and out of Shannon over the Christmas period – December 21 to January 2 – up almost 8,000 on the same period last year when over 35,000 travelled. This will make it the first Christmas in five years that passenger numbers at the airport have shown an increase.
Niall Maloney, Airport Operations Director at Shannon Airport said, “We are having a very busy Christmas here and particularly so this weekend. This is the busiest period of the winter season and we also have our free Santa Flights with Ryanair resuming on Saturday and Sunday so it it’s all hands on deck.
“An airport is an emotional place anyway as families and friends reunite or say goodbye but it is particularly so at Christmas. This weekend is probably the happiest of the year, though, and the buzz is fantastic as there are so many flying in to be home for Christmas.
“The arrivals area is where it all happens, particularly for US and London flights as they are full of people flying back from the States or, via London, from the likes of Australia, the Middle East, Far East and elsewhere.”
